The wait is almost over for film lovers as the doors to Flintshire’s first cinema in 40 years open on Friday, May 8.
It will be lights, camera, action for the state-of-the-art Cineworld at Broughton Shopping Park as it finally opens for business – it is expected to attract hundreds of people vying to catch the latest blockbuster movies.
It is the final piece of the multi-million pound extension to the shopping park which includes an array of already-open restaurants including Prezzo, Frankie and Benny’s, Chiquito, Nando’s and Pizza Express.
The cinema seats 1,680 people across 11 screens, including North Wales’ first ever IMAX screen which bosses say will “blow your mind”.
Previously film-lovers have to travel to Cardiff, Liverpool or Manchester for the magical experience that makes audiences feel like they “part of the film” thanks to a giant wall-to-wall and floor-to-floor screen measuring a whopping 17m wide and 9m high.
Cinema-goers will also be able to treat themselves to a variety of snacks including ice cream from the new Baskin Robbins counter; although the Starbucks, which will sit in the foyer will not open until later this summer.
The cinema has been fully kitted out with all the latest audio-visual technology as well as stylish and comfy seating which allows customers to watch all the latest Hollywood movies in the height of luxury.
A special effort has also been made to cater for disabled guests who have free rein on where to sit thanks to removable seats and a special viewing box at the back of each theatre.
The new cinema has created more than 50 jobs and more positions will be available when the Starbucks counter opens.
The first films that will be shown at the cinema include Far from the Madding Crowd, Unfriended, Spooks: The Greater Good and the Age of Adaline, while Avengers: Age of Ultron will be the first blockbuster to hit the IMAX screen.
There will be an advanced screening of Tomorrowland on Wednesday, May 20, at Cineworld Broughton, where Cineworld will be inviting selected customers that previously held Unlimited cards at Chester and didn’t close their Unlimited accounts when the cinema closed.
General manager of Broughton Cineworld Michelle McClean said: “We’re expecting to be very busy from day one especially because of the IMAX screen as people will be travelling from all of North Wales as well as Chester, Ellesmere Port and maybe even further afield. The technology really is state-of-the-art.”
