Oswestry Cinema images released - 17th July 2008

Developers for the proposed Smithfield Regeneration scheme in Oswestry have released the first visuals of the leisure facility which would provide the town with a state-of-the-art 5-screen Multiplex cinema.

The 19,000 sq ft cinema will be operated by one of the country’s leading cinema groups - Cineworld Group, who have signed up to a 25 year lease upon the proposed redevelopment scheme with a ‘keep open’ clause of 15 years that demonstrates a committed investment which will not have been undertaken lightly. The Group currently operates 74 sites across the UK, of which 71 are multiplex with 5 screens or more.

Chris Towers for developers, Liberty Mercian Ltd, said:

"The size and quality of the cinema will reinforce the overall role and attraction of Oswestry that the scheme is designed to bring from outside the area, as well as meeting a widely acknowledged and pressing need of evening leisure facilities for local townspeople who currently have to travel to Wrexham and Shrewsbury to see the latest films. The cinema will also play an important part in the creation of 850 new jobs expected to be generated by the site redevelopment which has the potential to inject at least £9 million into the local economy in salaries and wages."

With air conditioning and digital screens to accommodate such as the showing of major football games and the Olympics, the cinema will have stadium seating for 900, double seats for couples and VIP boxes with table service for special occasions. Showcasing a broad range of films to suit all tastes and a wide spectrum of age groups, there will be ample car parking for cinema-goers, shoppers and commuters alike as well as being easily accessible by public transport.

Steve Wiener, Chief Executive of Cineworld Group said:

"We are delighted to be part of the proposed Mixed Use Development in Oswestry. The development will create a new focal point for the residents and its surrounding area, combining office space with leisure and retail outlets.  Oswestry is a bustling market town with a rich heritage and will benefit greatly from the development which will be located on Shrewsbury Road next to the Cattle Market. We are thrilled to be working with Liberty Mercian Ltd again and are confident the local residents will be pleased with the finished product when it is completed."