Date revealed for opening of new Doncaster town centre cinema

The new Savoy cinema, at Waterdale, will open its doors to the public for the first time in just over a week.

A spokesman told the Free Press: “We are planning to open our brand new site in Doncaster on May 17.

Signs of activity have been visible in the new building in the last few days, with figures to be seen moving around inside the foyer of the glass fronted building, next to the Cast Theatre.

The cinema was due to open its doors this summer but bosses at the £8.5 million multiplex had to halt plans because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The cinema complex, which also includes units which will be rented out to restaurants, was developed by Doncaster Council, with Savoy brought in to run the facility.

It is the company’s sixth cinema in the UK.

The new attraction will include luxury recliner and rocker seating in all six screens with the latest in technology which includes premium Vertex viewing, next-generation 4K laser projection and Dolby Atmos immersive sound.

Cabinet members signed off the scheme to bring a Savoy Cinema along with five established food chains to Waterdale in 2018.

Developer Muse was due to build a six screen 1,600 seated cinema back in 2014. But the private firm 'couldn't make it work financially' and the project stalled.

The council stepped in and will now act as landowner, funder, developer and landlord to the completed development. The money is coming from the 'investment and modernisation fund'.

At the time, council bosses estimated that the development would generate revenue, 100 jobs and £530,000 in business rates from the scheme.

The development was also to benefit from £635,000 from the Sheffield City Region.

Doncaster last had a town centre cinema in 2008, when the Odeon closed at the top of Hall Gate. The Odeon had been opened as the Ritz in 1934.

The frieze depicting the making of a film that was removed from the building when it was demolished is now on display outside the Savoy, on Sir Nigel Gresley Square.

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