Curtain comes down in Chippenham

14 December 2018

Following 18 weeks of work, the team have completed the extensive reconfiguration and refurbishment of Chippenham’s only cinema. Reel Cinema, a successful independent operator, has invested heavily in the original Astoria Theatre building, which dates back to 1939.Having previously occupied only the first floor of the building, the venue has more than doubled in size. The existing two screens have been refurbished, bringing them up to modern standards. As well as this, the existing concession hall has been transformed into a lounge area for guests to relax, before seeing the latest blockbuster movie.

On the ground floor, the original entrance has been extended into two vacant retail units, giving the art-deco building a new frontage, and allowing space for the new concession hall. Towards the back of the building, a disused bingo hall has been reconfigured into a further three screens.To ensure the cinema could remain operational throughout the programme of works, a two-phase approach was implemented.