Picturehouse Cinema at Northgate, CWAC, p CWAC

Picturehouse's foyer will be above the Zizzi, while its screens will sit above Chester Market. Credit: via Cheshire West and Chester Council

Premiere date set for Chester Northgate’s Picturehouse

31 July 2023 11:35 Julia Hatmaker Comments (0)

The long-awaited, six-screen cinema is set to open in late autumn, nearly seven years after the film screening venue signed a leasing agreement with Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Fronting onto Exchange Square, the future Picturehouse Cinema will occupy a prominent spot at the council’s Chester Northgate project, which has seen the creation of an 800-space multi-storey car park, 10,000 sq ft of offices, and a new indoor market over its £70m first phase.

The first phase of Northgate opened last year.

Picturehouse has been the confirmed operator of Northgate’s cinema since 2016. The movie theatre will show a variety of arthouse and blockbuster films.

Cheshire West and Chester Council Leader Cllr Louise Gittins welcomed the news of Picturehouse’s opening date.

“The opening of the Picturehouse cinema at Northgate will be a major milestone achieved for the council; to bring a multi-screen cinema back to the city centre and complement the existing and planned attractions within Chester Northgate,” she said.

The announcement of Picturehouse’s autumn opening comes days after the cinema’s parent company, Cineworld Group, officially filed for administration – a decision that had been expected for several months in the wake of financial uncertainty from the company.

Despite this, a Cineworld spokesperson said that the group’s administration status would not impact its subsidiaries and that these companies, which include Regal and Picturehouse, would operate as usual.

Regarding the opening Clare Binns, managing director of Picturehouse Cinemas, said: “Picturehouse is so delighted to become part of the Chester community this autumn. We can’t wait to bring the Picturehouse experience, and a host of great films from around the world, to Chester.”

Picturehouse is celebrating its upcoming opening by hosting free film screenings at Chester Market on Tuesdays starting on 8 August. The cinema chain is also encouraging customers to sign up for its Chester Picturehouse Founder Memberships, which provides a series of free tickets each month.