BURNLEY’S Reel Cinema is ready for its official opening after a £2million refurbishment.
Chain owner Kailash Chander ‘KC’ Suri has promised the town’s cinema-goers ‘a brand-new red carpet cinematic extravaganza’ as a thank-you for making the venue a great success.
Mayor of Burnley, Cllr Howard Baker, will be the main official guest for a special showing of ‘Kingsman the Golden Circle’ starring Colin Firth and Halle Berry tomorrow.
The evening includes a celebration dinner for special guest including many leading figures from the film and cinema industry.
Former Labour Cabinet Minister Jack Straw has been invited as Mr Suri’s company is behind a new £6.5million cinema to be built in Blackburn town centre.
The firm is also building a new cinema in Chorley.
Mr Suri said he had decided to revamp the Burnley venue as customer numbers exceeded 350,000 a year following Reel taking over the Manchester Road cinema from the Apollo chain in 2012.
All nine screens have been gutted and refitted with new seats and carpets while an upgraded foyer will see revamped food and drink concessions including a new licensed bar.
The chain is promising ‘a vibrant and modern social space at the heart of the Burnley community', a contemporary foyer, four ATM’s to collect and purchase tickets, digital screens showcasing the latest film times, trailers and cinema offers, and a comfortable seating area.
All screens have premier seating as standard with more legroom and there are also new Premier and VIP lounges.
It will create 25 new jobs.
Mr Suri said: “I am really looking forward to the official opening.
“We have spent the last three weeks trialling the new cinema, ironing out snags, and getting just right for the official opening, rather like previews of a play at West End Theatre.
“We’ve chosen ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ because it is the latest big film which opens this week.
“I hope our customers are really going to like the new cinema.
“It is our thank-you to the cinema-goers of Burnley for supporting us so well since 2012.”
A neighbouring restaurant and ‘drive-thru’ Burger King are part of an associated development with the refurbishment.
Mr Suri’s business empire includes 15 cinemas nationwide with more under development.
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