New deal struck for Everyman Cinema to open in Windsor town centre

A long-awaited four-screen cinema could open in Windsor town centre before 2027.

Bridgecore Developments Ltd, behind the Windsor Royal shopping area redevelopment, confirmed that a lease agreement has been completed with Everyman Cinemas.

Owners AEW UK Investment Management acquired further properties in Peascod Street to open the cinema above the existing shops in the area formerly known as King Edward Court.

The existing Costa Coffee will be retained while the first-floor cinema will be built above the coffee shop, next to the Daniel department store.

Philip Skottowe from Bridgecore Developments Ltd delivered an update on the redevelopment at Windsor Town Forum last night (Tuesday).

“We now have an agreement for a lease with Everyman Cinemas, and they’ve been part and parcel of developing the scheme throughout, so it is tailored to their offer," he said.

“Everyone wanted the cinema. I whooped for joy when we got the Everyman agreement signed.

“It took a long time to do it, but there we are, we’ve done it.

“They’re committed, we’re committed, and we want to deliver that cinema as soon as we can.”

He said they have secured detailed planning consent for the 'fabulous' development, which is 'a new offer for the town'.

“For the historians of Windsor, you’ll be interested to know it’s actually located in the same position as the cinema that closed down about 50 or 60 years ago in Peascod Street," he added.

“Absolute coincidence, same address.”

The 380-seat cinema is part of a wider development scheme in the town centre that will take years and ‘happen in phases’, added chief architect Bill Soper.

The first phase could include the construction of the cinema and an extension of the Travelodge hotel.

“We would like the first phase to be the cinema because we know the town really wants to see that delivered and that’s what we’re working on currently,” Mr Soper told councillors.

“I’m hoping we can start in the first half of next year.”

Developers aim to reuse ‘as much existing structure as possible’ and do not want to close any retailers during construction.

Mr Skottowe said around 60 consultants have worked on the redevelopment plans over the past five years, albeit with a two-year hiatus, during which 'Windsor Yards' has been renamed the 'Windsor Royal' redevelopment.

"The rebranding has happened already – it’s Windsor Royal, so I hear Windsor Yards mentioned around the table, but I think [many] residents will be happy with that rebranding," said Mr Skottowe. 

Councillor Neil Knowles (OWRA, Old Windsor) said 'n early everybody' in Windsor still calls it  King Edward Court and 'no body can understand why it was called Windsor Yards'.

“The actual construction periods are fairly quick for each element. We’d expect the cinema to be delivered in 12 months, I mean less than 12 months,” Mr Skottowe said.

“It will be [20]27.”