Following the success of securing River Island and Goldsmiths in May, Multi Development (formerly AM Development) has announced another new name for Victoria Square, Multi's £320 million (approx. €443 million) mixed-use regeneration scheme in Belfast's city center.
ODEON, the UK's largest cinema chain shall operate an 8-screen cinema on the 2nd floor level of Victoria Square and will have capacity for 1,800 seats. The cinema experience that ODEON will bring to Victoria Square will be new to the city, incorporating the latest sound and projection technology used at other ODEON cinemas across the UK. Access to the cinema will be off the impressive dome, which will be accessible to the public 24/7.
Ken Taylor, Property Development Director, ODEON Cinemas said: "ODEON is delighted to be involved in this major redevelopment in the heart of the city. The Victoria Square site will be our first cinema in Northern Ireland and we're very excited about bringing the ODEON cinema experience to the city of Belfast."
With over 100 cinemas across the UK, ODEON entertains more people in the UK than any other cinema chain accounting for nearly a third of all tickets sold in the UK. The latest Hollywood blockbusters will be brought to the 8-screen cinema, as well as movies by independent producers.
Richard Green, Multi's UK Leasing Manager said: "Signing the UK's leading cinema operator is a tremendous achievement for us. Not only is ODEON much loved by the movie going public, it will also introduce a new entertainment experience to Victoria Square and Belfast. This is in line with our strategy to secure the newest concepts in leisure and retail to Victoria Square.
As befits a mixed-use scheme, ODEON shall complement the retail and leisure offer - all of which will set Victoria Square miles apart from the existing offer in Belfast. We are confident of seriously increased tenant demand for the restaurant space following this news."
Confirmed tenants at Victoria Square include House of Fraser, H&M, Virgin Megastores, Lunn's, River Island, Goldsmiths and Q-Park who will operate the 1,000-basement car park.
Construction on the 75,000-m² mixed-use scheme is progressing with the House of Fraser façade now complete. The first phase of the release of the scheme's 106 exclusive apartments will be launched to the market this Autumn. Victoria Square will open in March 2008.
Source: Multi
