Blackburn Cinema is a new eight-screen independent cinema currently under construction for Reel cinemas. The building is being built on the former Waves Leisure Centre site in Blackburn town centre.
The site sits within the Northgate conservation area and adjacent to a listed building. The design of the building is sympathetic to this and the materials reflect the local vernacular.
The new cinema for Blackburn with Darwen Council is the latest part of the borough’s scheme to regenerate the town centre and the night-time economy and will make a positive contribution to the urban landscape as it fills a prominent site between a number of significant existing buildings.
The cinema includes a bar and food and drink units. Improvements to the public realm will also create better linkages to Northgate. A feature textured, gold cladding adds drama to the main façade and has been designed to echo the hills of the nearby West Pennine Moors bringing a sense of place to the scheme.
Barnfield Construction was selected as construction partner and construction started in August 2018 with completion due in Summer 2020.