Curtains open on city's new independent cinema

As the finishing touches were put on The Lockworks cinema, it had what you might describe as a "new car smell".

The scent of fresh plastic hung in the air, while the banging racket of workmen could be heard behind a hum of vacuum cleaners.

The BBC was granted an exclusive first look at Wolverhampton's brand new cinema, which opened on Friday and replaces the iconic Light House which shut its doors in 2022 after 35 years.

The venture in the historic former lock factory, the Chubb Building, has had a £2m investment from the City of Wolverhampton Council and will create 23 jobs.

The partnership between independent commercial operator PDJ and the council came after a public outcry when the beloved but under-used Light House cinema shut, sparking a petition to reopen it.

"It's not a council's business to run cinemas," Chris Burden, the city's development lead, said.

"We know that. But the people wanted it. It's something we've got to get behind and do."

Residents also need to get behind The Lockworks and make the most of the exciting new venture, he added.

"So much of this is use it or lose it," he said.

The cinema has four screens and will be showing everything from blockbusters to independent films.

The first films showing on Friday are F1 The Movie, Superman and Jurassic World: Rebirth, and How to Train Your Dragon popping up for audiences on Saturday and Sunday.

PDJ director James Jervis believes the Chubb Building, where The Lockworks is based, is the most iconic in Wolverhampton.

"Things don't stay closed for long and people always find good uses for them," he said.

Mr Jervis added it was a "travesty" the city centre had gone without a cinema for years, promising a "high-end, four-screen experience at affordable prices".

"We want to bring a customer service, forward feel, where everyone knows the staff serving you drinks and popcorn," he said.

"You [will] know their name rather than it just [being] a machine. I think the people of Wolverhampton will really appreciate that."

Resident Clarens Foltea, 28, is originally from Portugal and has been living in the city for about three years.

The 28-year-old said the news about the cinema was "quite exciting", as he currently had to take a ten-minute Uber to watch a film at Cineworld at Bentley Bridge.

John Galsworthy, 83, from Sedgley, used to visit the old Light House and thought it was a "shame" it had closed.

He read about its replacement and came down to have a look as workers finished up.

"The council's plan seems to be to make the centre of the town a sort of leisure activity place," he said.

"It's one more reason for people to come into the centre of town."

Sophie Jervis, 25, who works in Wolverhampton and lives in Telford, also thought the new cinema was a great new asset.

"We don't have a lot for young people to do these days. It can only be a positive."

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