With Chester's new six-screen Picturehouse Cinema now open for business, CheshireLive has spoken to staff and cinemagoers in the city to see just what they think. The cinema may have been a long time coming, but there was palpable excitement as it edged towards finally opening its doors at the weekend.
Located at the heart of the city's Northgate development, the cinema complements the neighbouring and award-winning Chester Market, as well as Storyhouse next door. Visitors to the city now have even more choice when it comes to places to go out.
In its opening weekend, cinemagoers were treated to a choice of 13 different films, including blockbuster movie Barbie, chosen in keeping with the cinema's pink colour scheme, new release The Marvels, and Palme D'Or winner Anatomy of a Fall. And the cinema has proven a big hit during its first week of opening, with people flocking to have a look, enjoy a drink or a bite to eat or head into one of the six screens to watch a film.
READ: Inside Chester's new six-screen Picturehouse Cinema The brand new cinema at the heart of Chester's Northgate development opens its doors on Friday
READ: Long-awaited Chester Picturehouse Cinema opening date confirmed 'The new cinema will be a cornerstone of the Northgate development'
Commenting on how the first week has gone, general manager Alf McClean said: "It has been really busy. People who have come in have really enjoyed their visit.
"It's a little bit like a secret as people come into the foyer and then see the cafe bar and go on into the cinema. People have told us how much they love it here.
"Our founders wall has proved popular too, with founder members' names going on the wall by screen six. We even had one person knocking on the door at 9am today (Friday) before we'd even opened.
"We opened for the door for them, of course. They wanted to get a membership for their son so his name could go on the wall. It was lovely to see."
He added: "We've had lots of different people of all ages coming here and people have been saying how beautiful it is. It's really really lovely. It's also been popular with people coming into the cafe bar for a drink or for meeting friends for coffee or for lunch.
"We are really happy with how this week has gone and how the cafe bar is performing too."
Picturehouse's senior programmer, Freyja Pakarinen: "Chester Picturehouse opened to a whopping 13 different films across the weekend! We had the hot new releases as our top performers with Anatomy of a Fall, The Marvels, and Dream Scenario, as well as the top-notch awards contenders Killers of the Flower Moon and Past Lives also doing well.
"We have a very exciting run of films coming up for the rest of the year and hopefully this weekend was just a taste of the variety and quality that will be shown in this shiny new cinema."
A number of those who have either already visited or plan to visit soon have told CheshireLive how pleased they are that Chester Picturehouse Cinema is now open in the city.
Naomi Golding said: "We went on Sunday. It's a lovely cinema. We are so lucky to have it on our doorstep. The coffee was fab and the wine lovely too.
"We didn’t have food but it looked lovely. The seats were comfy and plush, especially for a three-hour film. It's a big thumbs up from me!"
And Kat Tanczos, who plans to be a regular visitor, said: "I haven’t been inside the screens yet at Picturehouse but I did go in to collect my membership on Saturday afternoon. The young person who served me made me feel very special as I have signed up as a founder member.
"It looks so beautiful inside. I cannot wait to sit inside and get lost in a film."
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