Sneak preview video shows how Daventry’s new cinema will look when finished

Daventry District Council has funded the new development, on the former library site at Mulberry Place off of North Street, and appointed The Arc as the operator for the new four-screen venue. It awarded a licence for the cinema in April and since then has appointed Wilmott Dixon to construct the ‘state-of-the-art’ complex.

The Mulberry Place development will also boast restaurants, a public square and splash fountains, and construction work on the cinema is expected to be complete by November. It will then undergo an interior fitting before a scheduled opening date of spring next year.

Both the council and The Arc will no doubt be hoping the film industry will be in a healthier place by then, with it currently undergoing a traumatic period due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although cinemas across the country have been back open for business since July, the scene in Northamptonshire received a huge blow this week when it was revealed that Cineworld would be temporarily shutting its cinemas at Sixfields and Rushden Lakes until further notice.

Nevertheless, Councillor David James, the district council’s cabinet member for the economy and regeneration, remains positive about the influence the new complex will have on the town when it is up and running.

He said: “The Arc Cinema’s indicative video for how the cinema will look is really impressive and further builds local excitement and anticipation for next year’s opening.

“Despite these challenging times with COVID our contractors Willmott Dixon have also done brilliantly to keep construction on track for a spring completion and we’re delighted with the progress being made.”