The cinema will be on the south side of the Kennet Centre shopping complex in a prominent position of the town’s emerging ‘cultural quarter’. It will be operated by Vue whose portfolio currently boasts around 607 screens in over 62 cinemas including a flagship in London’s West End where royal premieres have been hosted for over 60 years.

The cinema is a key element of the overall Newbury Vision 2025 which has already seen improvements to Northbrook Street, Market Place and Bartholomew Street (North and South) with the new Park Way development about to begin.

Conor O’ Gallagher, Director of developer Alanis who manage the Kennet Centre on behalf of the owners said, “I am delighted that the project is underway. The Kennet Shopping Centre is well established in the town centre and with around 50 stores has continuously brought a welcome retail addition to Newbury.

The development of a seven screen multiplex cinema and five new restaurants with direct access to the shopping centre means that this part of the town will have a substantially improved offer for the people of Newbury and surrounding areas.”

Pamela Bale, West Berkshire’s Executive Councillor for the Newbury Vision said, “This is an exciting development for Newbury which has received huge public support and will provide great benefits both culturally and to the local economy. I am sure that local people will enjoy the convenience of having a multiplex facility in their area.”

Tim Richards, CEO Vue Entertainment added, “We are delighted to be able to build and operate a Vue cinema in Newbury. We look forward to working with and serving the community and its surrounding area for many years to come. This cinema will have our latest design features and offers. More information will be released nearer to the opening of the cinema.”

The cinema should be ready to open its doors by the end of 2009.

Vue Entertainment is one of the UK’s leading multiplex developers and operators of state-of-the-art multiplex cinemas. Formed in May 2003, Vue is one of the fastest growing cinema companies in the country. Having acquired the Ster Century cinema chain at the end of April 2005, Vue announced a management buyout in June 2006 in partnership with Bank of Scotland Corporate, through its Integrated Finance Team in a deal valued in the region of £350 million. Vue now owns 62 multiplexes across the UK and Ireland, with 607 screens and over 33m attendances per annum. Vue continues its expansion with a programme of building new multiplexes across the UK involving plans to open 10 to 15 new sites in the next two to three years. The company has the most modern cinemas in the UK, with over 90% stadium seating and as a result it won the prestigious award for International Exhibitor of the Year at Cinema Expo 2005.

CEO Tim Richards was awarded the title of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 and also won the Leisure Report Individual of the Year award.