South West

Big Screen Comes Back To Newquay After 16 Years

Construction of Newquay’s new state-of-the-art Lighthouse cinema in Crantock Street has just been completed in a project carried out for WTW Cinemas by Pearce Construction.

Built on the site of the town’s former Victoria Cinema, the new three storey cinema – the first to open in Newquay for more than 16 years – boasts four digital projection screens, two of which are 3D; 600 seats and employment for 24 local staff.

The building has a large foyer with concessions areas including a bar and sweet shop, seating areas and a lift.

Screen One has a unique elevated platform at the front which means it can be hired for entertainment and presentation purposes.

The building is structured around a steel frame with external elevations in a combination of cladding and textured render incorporating windows at first floor level, as well as full height feature glazing (visible from the main staircase which wraps around the lift core), and a metal curved roof.

The fitting out of the building was carried out by GF Holdings who installed all the mass barrier ceilings, suspended ceilings, mechanical and electrical services, perimeter and dividing soundproof walls, acoustic flooring, two projection boxes and the timber terracing for the raked seating. Other works included full height ceramic tiling in the WCs and, on the main foyer floor, the construction of counters and complete internal decoration. The fit out was completed on time and on budget with the cinema opening in May 2011.

David Williams, Managing Director of WTW Cinemas, which also owns and operates cinemas in Truro, Wadebridge and St Austell, said: “It was absolutely fantastic to be able to open Newquay’s brand new cinema in time for the summer. There had been much anticipation and everyone involved in this project was very excited that the town will have a modern and comfortable venue that it can be proud of.”

Stephen Gilbert, MP for Newquay and St Austell added “I had no doubt that the new cinema would be a real hit from the day it is opened, and that’s why I’ve always been a keen supporter of its development. I congratulate the team at WTW Cinemas, and David Williams in particular, for all the hard work and dedication that has gone into this project.”

Guy Thomas, Newquay Town Centre Manager, commented: “The development of the cinema in Newquay is a wonderful and positive addition to the town centre and to the facilities that the town has, not only for tourism but for the local audience too. The fact that the facility is one of the best in the South West adds to the assertion that Newquay is the experiential capital of the county.”

Family-run business WTW Cinemas owns and operates cinemas The Plaza in Truro, White River Cinema in St Austell and The Regal in Wadebridge. White River Cinema recently won the RAAM ‘Best Independent Cinema in the UK’ award.

The new cinema in Newquay is the second phase of the company’s development plan, which included the construction and opening of St Austell’s White River Cinema in December 2008. The third stage will be the refit of the existing Plaza cinema in Truro in 2012.

The two storey building features external elevations in brick and render, with UPVC framed windows and a pitched tiled roof. External works included the creation of landscaped gardens with seating and patio areas, as well as a car park.

Longlevens Building and Roofing Services are a well respected Gloucester-based company who have been established for over 20 years. Collectively, the directors of the company have over 50 years experience which they feel shows in the quality of their construction work.

The company offers a full range of construction services; from brickwork and patios, through to loft conversions, extensions and new building. Longlevens Building and Roofing are well practiced in many forms of construction and are able to build bespoke or traditional designs, commercial or domestic projects.

Every year the company takes on apprentices through CITB, so they also support local young people’s careers whilst getting the job done.

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