Opening date for Parkway Cinema Workington revealed

Parkway Cinemas has announced that the fully-refurbished cinema at Dunmail Park in Workington will open from Friday, March 17.

Finishing touches are currently being made to a full £4million-plus ‘back-to-brick’ refurbishment, which features luxury leather recliners throughout, six-screens, 4K laser projection and 3D, Dolby surround sound.

The cinema has undergone a full £4M ‘back-to-brick’ refurbishment (Image: Parkway Cinemas)

It is the first time these electric leather recliner seats have been used in a UK cinema.

They allow users to adjust and set the recline for their preferred viewing angle, with lots of legroom and a table for snacks and drinks.

Dedicated private hire areas for kids’ parties, private family events and full conference facilities are also available, alongside a new food and drink offer with cocktails in the evenings and brunch during the day.

Richard Parkes, director of Parkway Cinemas, said: “We wanted to make something really special here - we were aiming for the comfiest seats in Cumbria.

"There are more than 500 of these luxurious electric reclining seats, which is about half as many seats as the old cinema.

“We’ve nearly doubled the legroom and space on every row, and we had to rebuild the floors in every screen to make it happen.”

Richard Parkes, director of Parkway Cinemas and Dan Moxon, general manager of Parkway Workington (Image: Parkway Cinemas)

Parkway have installed all new screens and made them bigger than before, by moving around some internal walls and doors to make even more space for the screens.

The cinema has been fully redesigned, with art-deco inspired details with 'a modern twist'.

'More than just the films'

The foyer area will offer a 'coffee-shop atmosphere' during the day, with various brunch choices and what the group describes as “really good” coffee.

And in the evenings a new bar area will serve up cocktails and drinks that can be enjoyed in the bar or taken through to the screens.

The private hire spaces can be booked for parties and events, alongside the option for fully private screenings.

The cinema has been fully redesigned, with art-deco inspired details with a modern twist (Image: Parkway Cinemas)

Dan Moxon, general manager of Parkway Workington, said: “What people expect from a cinema has changed over time.

"We’re not really competing with staying at home and watching a film on TV, it’s more about offering a great choice for people who want to go out instead.

“The screen, seats and sound all need to be great, obviously, but so does the service. Great coffee, great drinks, great food.

“We’re testing out some brilliant new brunch food, and also refining our cocktail list at the moment. It’s all about offering much more than just the films.”

Donald Dixon, managing director of J Dixon & Son Ltd and owner of Dunmail Park, said: “We have enjoyed working with Parkway to bring a 21st Century cinema offer to Dunmail Park.

“Parkway are providing a state-of-the-art cinema offer for Workington and Cumbria with larger screens and luxury reclining seats.

“As a local family-owned business we pride ourselves in giving west Cumbria the best in entertainment and shopping in this, our 140th year.”

The first film to be shown from Friday, March 17, is the big new family-film, Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods.

The cinema will also be offering screenings of the latest Marvel blockbuster, Ant-Man, and Avatar 2 in 3D, along with a range of other new releases.

There are also plans to bring back films that were released while the cinema was being built, starting with Top Gun Maverick - one of the biggest blockbusters for years.

Parkway will offer ‘Senior Screens’ every week, with a choice of new films and classics aimed at an older audience for a reduced price.

There will also be a weekend kids' club, dementia-friendly and autism-friendly screenings and subtitled screenings available.

Tickets will be on sale soon.

READ MORE: Newly-refurbished cinema to open soon with a fresh look and private screen hires