Crescent project gives Hinckley first cinema for 22 years.

The steel-framed Crescent regeneration project in the centre of Hinckley, Leicestershire, is set to give the town its first cinema since 1993.

A series of invited guest-only gala nights have already been held at the project’s new 787-seat Cineworld complex ahead of next week’s (Dec 17) official opening.

The unveiling of Cineworld follows on from the successful opening of a new steel-framed 6,500m² Sainsbury’s at the new development earlier this year.

Tony Baker, of the main client Tin Hat Partnership, said: “This is another landmark for the Crescent. Cineworld, alongside Sainsbury’s, were anchor tenants for the scheme and that really meant that the whole development could happen.

“It’s great to see them throwing open their doors at what should be a very busy time for the cinema.

“This is an excellent end to 2015 and really gives us momentum going into 2016 to get terms agreed on the last remaining units and to see all of our other occupiers, who have already committed, opening.”

Working on behalf of main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland, more than 2,000t of structural steelwork was erected by Billington Structures for the entire scheme.

The Crescent occupies a large swathe of the town centre and will ultimately deliver 25 retail units along a pedestrian mail, a revamped bus station, a 550-space undercroft car park, as well as Cineworld and Sainsbury’s.

The official opening for the whole scheme is expected in the spring of 2016.