Cinema operator signs up to £90m plan (From Wiltshire Times)

Cinema operator signs up to £90m plan

8:10am Friday 29th June 2007 in News By Helen Thomas

LEADING cinema and bowling operators have signed up to the long-awaited Waterside development in Trowbridge.

Modus, the preferred developer for the site, has announced Vue Cinemas and Bowlplex have signed up to be part of the £90m development alongside the river Biss. Our exclusive artist's impressions show how the scheme might look.

Vue will be taking up a 30,000 sq ft space within the development to create an eight-screen multiplex cinema with more than 1,200 seats.

Bowlplex will be taking over 24,000 sq ft for a 20-lane bowling and entertainment centre. Modus hopes the news will lead to more leisure operators showing an interest in joining the scheme.

Jamie Bunce, development manager at Modus, said: "We are delighted to have secured Vue and Bowlplex as anchor tenants into the Waterside scheme.

"Vue and Bowlplex share our aspirations for creating a unique family orientated leisure destination and are the first of many high quality operators interested in coming to Trowbridge.

"We are looking forwards to announcing further lettings in the coming months."

Cllr Michael Mounde, economy portfolio holder at West Wiltshire District Council said: "It is superb news that these nationally renowned companies want to come to Trowbridge. Local people have been asking for a cinema and bowling alley for many years, so to now have these facilities on the horizon is good news indeed, not just for Trowbridge but for the district of west Wiltshire as a whole.

"Securing these two quality tenants makes the scheme even more commercially attractive and I am confident that more big names will follow."

Geoff Moore, property director of Vue Cinemas said: "Vue are pleased to have secured the multiplex within this significant leisure development which will set the benchmark for family entertainment in the south west."

Tracy Standish, managing director of Bowlplex said: "We are delighted to be part of this exciting scheme for Trowbridge."

As well as the cinema and bowling centre the development will include a number of restaurants and bars, a new library, a 60-bed hotel and 240 apartments. The scheme also includes a 340-space car park and 40,000 sq ft of office space.

Modus aims to start working on the site in spring 2008 with the leisure facilities ready for opening in 2010. The first phase of apartments is due to be completed by summer 2009. Cllr Fluer de Rhe-Philipe, cabinet member for economic development at Wiltshire County Council has welcomed the news.

"We have taken another significant step towards securing a multiplex cinema in Trowbridge, as well as a bowling complex. This is important, not only in its own right, but as a sign to people in Trowbridge, and to potential investors, that the town is growing and has a bright future."