Following fast on the heels of M&S and Next comes the announcement that Reel Cinemas has also committed to Rochdale Town Centre.

The retail and leisure scheme was given a further boost with the news that the cinema operator has exchanged contracts and will open a new six screen, 20,000 sq ft (1,858 sq m) cinema in the development.  This will underpin the leisure element of the centre, which will provide bars and restaurants, as well as new retail units.

Reel is a national operator with 15 existing outlets.  Every Reel Cinema plays an important role in supporting the communities they service, through offering choice and great customer service and the business prides itself on running special events and money raising activities to support good causes.  Each screen will be available for private hire.

The letting, together with the two anchor signings, will kick start more than 200,000 sq ft (60,970 sq m) of planned new retail and leisure accommodation in the centre of Rochdale, which is being delivered by Rochdale Borough Council’s joint venture partners Genr8 and Kajima Partnerships. The scheme has been branded as Rochdale Riverside and represents the next phase, alongside the re-opening of the River Roch, of Rochdale’s £250m town centre regeneration programme.

Chris Morgan Giles of Reel Cinemas said:

“We’re delighted to be signing up to this exciting retail and leisure development, which will undoubtedly help reposition Rochdale, stop leakage and attract people to the town centre from a much wider catchment.  We look forward to working closely with Genr8, the developers, over the forthcoming months whilst they go through the planning process and commence works on site.

Our operations in this region have recently grown significantly and as we are looking to continue to expand our business for the foreseeable future, Rochdale is an ideal place to do this.”

Steve Rumbelow, Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, said:

“This deal is further demonstration that the development is gaining momentum and of the council’s commitment to the regeneration of the town centre. We expect to make further exciting announcements about new retailers and leisure occupiers coming to Rochdale in the near future.”

A detailed planning application will be submitted over the summer and it is anticipated that works will commence on site later this year.

Genr8’s agent for Rochdale Riverside is Cheetham & Mortimer, Manchester.

For further information, please contact Justine McGuinn of Just PR & Marketing on 07903 661228 or justine@justprm.co.uk.