A long-awaited cinema will open in Southport town centre later this year. Plans to open the Southport Bijou Cinema first became reality for film-lover Michael Lockwood when he bought an empty restaurant building three years ago and set about recruiting a team to transform the venue into a state-of-the-art facility.
Mr Lockwood bought the Post Office Avenue building, which was last used as the Latin Lounge restaurant, at an auction after failing to find a suitable place to rent during a year-long search.
He had initially hoped to open the doors to the new cinema in mid-2017 and long delays led some to doubt whether the plans, which include a cafe, bar and lounge area, would ever come to fruition.
Now, newly-appointed manager Andy Harrison says construction work is rapidly ongoing and the venue will open for the first time this Autumn.
Source: Long-awaited independent cinema set to open in Southport – LancsLive