Reel announces plans for six-screen Rochdale cinema

Leisure operator Reel Cinemas has announced plans to open a new 20,000 sq ft cinema in the heart of the £250m Rochdale town centre development.

The six-screen complex will serve as the centrepiece of the Rochdale Riverside scheme’s leisure offer, adding to Reel’s 15-strong network of cinemas.

Retailer M&S and fashion outlet Next have already signed up for space at the development, which is being delivered by the borough council’s joint venture partners Kajima Partnerships and Genr8.

The site will comprise 200,000 sq ft of space across restaurants, bars, retail units and outdoor areas.

Chris Morgan Giles, from Reel Cinemas, commented: “We’re delighted to be signing up to this exciting retail and leisure development, which will undoubtedly help reposition Rochdale, stop leakage and attract people to the town centre from a much wider catchment.

“We look forward to working closely with Genr8, the developers, over the forthcoming months whilst they go through the planning process and commence works on site.”

He added: “Our operations in this region have recently grown significantly and as we are looking to continue to expand our business for the foreseeable future, Rochdale is an ideal place to do this.”

Steve Rumbelow, the council’s chief executive, said the authority expects to announce new retailers and leisure firms for the scheme “in the near future”.

He added: “This deal is further demonstration that the development is gaining momentum and of the council’s commitment to the regeneration of the town centre.”

Genr8’s agent on the Rochdale Riverside project is Manchester-based Cheetham & Mortimer.

Detailed plans are due to be submitted to the council’s planning committee in the summer. If approved, work is expected to commence later in 2016.

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