A huge new cinema complex is to open at Bristol’s Cabot Circus next year. The shopping centre’s owner, property giant Hammerson, has confirmed a major deal with Odeon – the UK’s largest cinema brand.
Odeon already has a historic venue on Union Street in Bristol’s shopping quarter.
The announcement comes a year after the shock closure of Cabot’s Showcase Cinema de Lux, which at the time was the city’s biggest multiplex cinema with 14 screens. When the premier city centre venue shut in 2023, Hammerson bosses said they were “committed” to having a large cinema as part of Cabot.
Earlier this year, the company carried out a customer survey and discovered that a new cinema was the leisure experience most requested by visitors to the shopping centre.
The new venue will be a 53,000sq ft site and will use part of the former Showcase complex, but not all of it. Hammerson said today it could not yet confirm the number of screens.
Toby Tait, director of asset management at Hammerson, said: “Cabot Circus is proud of its record providing Bristol with a leading cinema which acts as a key draw to both our destination and the wider city centre.
“This new partnership with Odeon is the culmination of months of hard work to select the best operator and bring the latest technology and experience into a completely renewed cinema venue. It adds to our growing line-up of restaurants and entertainment venues, specifically introduced to boost day and night experiences at Cabot Circus in the heart of Bristol.”
The Odeon will open at Cabot some time next year, although a date has not yet been confirmed. However, bosses have said the cinema will offer the “ultimate” big-screen experience.
The cinema chain is the tenth new occupier to sign at Cabot Circus this year as part of a drive to bring new brands and experiences to central Bristol.
It follows a string of other recent deals including King Pins Bowl, which will open its 16,500 sq ft gaming venue next year, and Treetop Golf – an immersive golfing experience – opening in December.
A number of eateries are also coming to Cabot, including popular gastronomical concept Six by Nico and poke bowl chain Honi Poke, which chose the Bristol shopping centre as one of its first sites outside of London.
Other recent retail signings include Marks & Spencer, which is marking a return to the city centre; Inditex-owned clothing brand Stradivarius; leisure outlet Lids; and H&M, which recently celebrated a year since opening its home store within the shopping centre.
The news comes just days after it was confirmed electrical retailer Currys is closing its Cabot Circus store, with a new business set to take up shop in its current home.