Luxury cinema to open in Manchester city centre next year

A luxury cinema is to open in Manchester city centre as part of the multimillion-pound St John’s development.

Everyman Cinema, which is known for its up-market cinemas, is opening its first venue in Manchester next autumn.

Boutique cinema Everyman will open at the ABC Buildings in the St John’s Development.

The development includes plans for 2,500 homes, offices and leisure destinations on the site of the former Granada Studios.

SimpsonHaugh and Partners are behind the masterplan which will also see two fifty storey towers and three hotels, including the Grande Hotel incorporating the iconic red neon ‘Granada TV’ sign.

The development also features a new £110m theatre and arts venue called The Factory.

The new cinema is the latest brand to agree to come to the new development.

Everyman has built a reputation for quality, hospitality and a programme of films and live broadcast art events.

The firm has 20 cinemas across the country but is best known for the Screen on the Green in London.

The cinema will take 10,500 sq ft at the ABC Buildings, the cinema will feature three screening rooms and a bar and restaurant.

Everyman Cinema interior

Everyman Manchester will have hospitality led team providing service to seats and a broad programme of films and events.

Michael Ingall, chief executive of Allied London said “Situated at the crossroads of our two neighbourhoods, Spinningfields and St. John’s – and so close to the expanding Castlefield area – it’s great to introduce Everyman and it’s unique style to this part of the city.

“Everyman is an experience that is especially relevant to what we do and who our developments attract.”

Crispin Lilly, chief executive of Everyman Cinemas said: “Opening a new Everyman venue in Manchester will be an important step for us.

“Manchester is a city steeped in entertainment history and we can’t wait to be a part of it.

“Our focus is really on experience, from an atmospheric bar with a quality food and drink menu (including a great wine list), to comfortable sofa seating and a great programme of films both big and small.

“We aim to make every guest’s visit special no matter what they choose to watch, and to make them fall back in love with a night at the cinema.”

Rochelle Silverstein, associate director of retail & leisure for Allied London, said: “Everyman are a perfect fit for our growing community of occupiers at ABC as part of Enterprise City.

“Their offer gives cinemagoers a complete experience and reflects the type of original and quality leisure operators that will cement St. John’s as a destination for culture.

“Everyman at ABC will also complement our growing media cluster, which includes The Farm Group, Booking.com and All Studios; we are now well on our way to building another dynamic and creative neighbourhood for the city.”

Everyman is the second leisure tenant to join ABC after Allied announced that Barry’s Bootcamp would be joining the complex in October.

The wider Enterprise City cluster has been created for media, tech and creative industries, including the redevelopment of the former Granada TV Studios, now operated by All Studios.

Last month, Allied London and Aviva Investors entered into a long-term funding partnership to deliver Enterprise City, part of the £1.25 bn St. John’s development.

The ABC buildings (formerly Astley Byrom House) are a key media asset for Enterprise City.

The development will retain the buildings’ original features, showcasing its true Sixties architecture and design, with a refurbishment that celebrates the era of innovation and originality, with elements remaining as relevant today as they were over 50 years ago.