New £3.5 million White River cinema set to open St Austell

The longest running cinema company in the UK is set to open the newest cinema complex in the country, and the first new cinema in Cornwall for 70 years, when the new White River Cinema opens in St Austell on Friday December 19.

The £3.5 million cinema complex is first part of the £75 million regeneration of the town, and is phase one of WTW cinemas own plans for expansion. Stage two will be looking to provide a new four screen cinema on the former Vic Bars site in Newquay, which it is hoped will open in 2010, and the third stage is the refit of the existing Plaza cinema in Truro city centre.

Because we like pandering to your techy knowledge, here are a few facts that you can use to wow friends, family members and co-workers:

The White River Cinema will have four screens, which will accommodate 640 people (about the same as the former St Austell FilmCentre), it takes up 11,500sq ft over two floors and the projection system is Century of Chicago USA, with 35mm operating during the opening period but with provision for the digital switch over (which could just mean a plug for power and a box to stand the projector on). And all auditoria are fitted with Dolby Digital Stereo sound.

You can check these facts out for yourself in the two open days Wednesday December 17, from 12pm to 8pm, and on Thursday December 18, from 12pm to 6pm. And the first film to be shown on the opening night… Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.

â€¢ With such a bright future for watching film, stay tuned for some blurb we picked up about the history of WTW Cinemas.

Posted by Cptn