VISITORS to the new Chester Picturehouse cinema will have a feast for the senses, with a wide selection of film and food on offer when it officially opens to the public at noon on Friday, November 10.
The six-screen cinema will be the first multi-screen venue in Chester since the former MGM/Virgin/UGC/Cineworld cinema closed on the Greyhound Retail Park just over 10 years ago in October 2013, and the first in the city centre since the Odeon (since rebuilt as Storyhouse, which includes a single-screen cinema) closed in 2007.
The much-anticipated venue was delayed for about a year amid uncertainty for the future of parent company Cineworld, but finishing work recommenced at the Northgate Development site, ensuring its place near the new Chester Market (which marked its first birthday this week), along with restaurants Zizzi and Turtle Bay (the latter due to open early in the new year).
The new Picturehouse Chester cinema.
Built from the ground up, interior designers were given a blank canvas, and have used the space to take inspiration from classic Wes Anderson picture The Grand Budapest Hotel, with its distinctive look prominent throughout the new venue, including Wes Anderson film quotes for visitors to discover.
Picturehouse film programmer Freyja Pakarinen explained: "Each [Picturehouse] has its own design. Because this is a new build, we could do whatever we wanted," and that tailored approach applies to films too, with the Chester cinema to screen a selection of Chester-born Daniel Craig's best films including Layer Cake, Knives Out, Casino Royale and Skyfall.
The mural at the Picturehouse Chester cinema, created by artist Murugiah, officially unveiled by Lord Mayor of Chester Cllr Sheila Little.
The Chester site also boasts an original mural designed by multidisciplinary artist Murugiah, which was officially unveiled by Lord Mayor of Chester Cllr Sheila Little during a preview tour of the venue on Wednesday.
Cllr Little said: "I am thrilled to day to be here at the opening of the Picturehouse in Chester. It has been a long time coming, and there have been a few ups and downs, but it's absolutely fantastic.
The new Picturehouse Chester cinema.
"[The mural] is by an award-winning artist, Murugiah, which features many references to Chester.
"Thank you very much to the artist and thank you very much to Picturehouse for personalising this building to Chester."
During the tour, visitors were able to see the new screens, which range from the main 220-seater, to one which will seat about 50, designed so it can be hired out for private screenings.
The Picturehouse Chester cinema bar.
For its first day on Friday afternoon, Chester Picturehouse will be showing these films:
- How to Have Sex (15) – 12.30, 6.30
- The Marvels (12A) – 12.40, 3.20, 6, 8.40
- Killers of the Flower Moon (15) – 1, 2.45, 7
- Bottoms (15) – 1.10, 6.10
- Dream Scenario (15) – 1.30, 4, 5.30, 8.50
- Anatomy of a Fall (15) – (Subtitled) 2.15, 5.20, 8
- Past Lives (12A) – 3.30, 8.30
- The Killer (15) – 8.40
Other highlights, including films for all ages over the next few days, include:
- Trolls Band Together (U) – Saturday and Sunday, 11am
- The Lego Movie (U) – Saturday, November 11, 11.15am
- Barbie (12A) – Saturday, November 11, 3.15pm
- Night of the Demon (PG) – 1pm, Sunday, November 12
Dolly Parton Rockstar: The Global First Listen (PG) – Wednesday, November 15, 6.30pm.
Complementing the film offering will be a range of food and drink offerings, including traditional popcorn (sweet and salted varieties), pretzels, Mochi balls ice cream, nachos and Sicily-fresh pizzas, plus pick and mix, while beer and wine can be taken in to the screenings.
A range of snacks is available at the new Picturehouse Chester cinema.
Picturehouse managing director Clare Binns said: "I am so excited, it has been a long time coming; we have finally made it. It's something really special.
"Our aim was to complement the beautiful Storyhouse and the amazing Market with something as wonderful but different.
"Freyja is an amazing programmer – I know she is going to do an amazing job, bringing films for infants coming with parents or carers, or silver screeners; lots of family films, world cinema, and we had to have a nod to Daniel Craig!
"The thing that makes us unique is our broad range of cinema. It's about the best of film that is being released in the UK."
One of the first films to be screened is Picturehouse's own film, the Palme d'Or winning Anatomy of a Fall.
For more information on Chester Picturehouse, visit https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/chester-picturehouse
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