Didcot’s cinema moved closer to completion this week, after South Oxfordshire District Council officially transferred the building shell to cinema operator Cineworld, to start fitting out the inside in early January.
The external shell of the building, started by Britannia Construction back in May, is now virtually complete, allowing the next phase of fitting out the inside to begin. Cineworld has also appointed Britannia for this stage of building work, which includes installing the seating, projection equipment and café furniture, and providing the internal lighting, power supplies, and wall, floor and ceiling finishes. The Council expects the work to finish in late April 2007, and anticipates the cinema being open by early May 2007.
Local residents can look forward to seeing a wide range of films, whilst enjoying revolutionary designed luxury seating and a state of the art sound system. There will be over 900 seats spread across five different sized screen auditoria, seating between 120 and 260 people.
Meanwhile South Oxfordshire District Council has given the go ahead for the Didcot Arts Centre, with construction expected to last around 60 weeks. The Council expects the arts centre to be open in 2008.
The plan includes a multipurpose auditorium for drama, music and dance, with seating for up to 290 people; four multipurpose arts education spaces; a visual art exhibition space; and a café/bar; associated accommodation includes dressing rooms, green room, scenery and technical stores, public foyer, box office and office space for arts centre staff.
