New cinema set to open in Bishop Auckland

A new community-focused cinema is set to open in County Durham.

REEL Cinema Bishop Auckland will open on Friday, March 27 at the town’s new retail and leisure park, completing phase one of the wider development. 

The seven-screen venue will showcase the latest blockbuster releases, family favourites and live-streamed event cinema, including theatre, opera and concerts.

Designed as a social hub, the cinema will feature a licensed bar, coffee shop, hot food offer and bookable spaces for private, corporate and community events. 

A wide programme of accessible screenings, including subtitled and autism-friendly showings, will also be available.

The opening will create 30 local jobs and introduce laser projection across all screens, alongside an A+ energy efficiency rating.

Sunil Suri, director of REEL Cinemas, which has 15 sites nationwide and will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2026, said: “Very few towns blend heritage and culture quite like Bishop Auckland. 

“You can feel the town investing in its next chapter – building on its roots with new spaces for people and community to come together – and it’s a privilege for a family-owned independent like ours to play a small role in that. 

“We’re also introducing a number of ‘firsts’ for REEL here, which feels exactly right in a place that’s looking forward while staying true to its identity.”

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