Blyth cultural venue and cinema gets the green light

09 May 2023 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news

Approval has been given for investment into a new cultural venue, cinema and improvements to Market Place in Blyth town centre, with Jam Jar Cinema announced as the main operator of the flagship new building.

The ‘Culture Hub and Market Place’ project approved by Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet is part of the £70m Energising Blyth regeneration programme that aims to revitalise the town. The project is funded by the UK Government’s Future High Street Fund and the County Council and follows extensive engagement with the Blyth community.  

The new venue will be a major attraction for the whole community and visitors to enjoy and will make the Market Place feel more welcoming and safer, adds to the towns current offer and encourages further investment.   

The new venue will house a three-screen cinema, creative and developmental play offer, café and spaces for a range of events including live music, comedy, drama, dance and celebrations.  

The Market Place will be significantly improved around the new venue adding more green space enhancing the site’s biodiversity.  Features including new enhanced lighting and street furniture will create an improved space for events and performances.  As part of the project, the public toilets will be refurbished and the remembrance garden next to St Mary’s Church will be enhanced.   

More news will be shared over the next few months with determination of the planning application due in June 2023.  The project could be set to start on the ground following the Blyth Carnival, as early as Summer 2023 with site set up prior to construction works getting underway.  The new venue is expected to open Winter 2024. 

During construction, disruption will be kept to a minimum behind hoardings that will be established around the centre of the Market Place.  The area will continue to be accessible with all business remaining open and the weekly markets continuing to operate. Regular updates will continue to be provided to local businesses and market traders in the run up to construction getting underway. 

Councillor Wojciech Ploszaj Cabinet Member for Business at Northumberland County Council, said: “Today’s approval is a major milestone in our plans to boost Blyth town centre.   

“Blyth has huge potential changing for the better with new jobs and investment in clean energy industry and an increasingly popular place to live and work.  However, the town centre has been struggling like many towns up and down the country as retail has declined.  We want to see a town centre everyone is proud of which serves the community, boosts trade for local businesses and attracts further investment.   

“This major project will help to kick start the regeneration of the area so it's fantastic to both approve the project and announce the welcome news that Jam Jar Cinema will be coming on board to provide a new and exciting offer.” 

Jam Jar Cinema founder, Dan Ellis BEM, said: “We have operated our award-winning cinema in Whitley Bay for over a decade and we're very pleased to be able to take the opportunity to bring our ethos to Blyth.  

We've seen the difference a full time independent cinema can make to a town and this will be the next step on our journey. Blyth is exactly the kind of place we want to be and know local people will love an affordable cinema at the heart of the community which is accessible to all. But more than that I'm looking forward to there being all sorts of exciting events too. It’s going to be great for residents but also a destination venue! 

“There will be more news to come as we prepare for opening this exciting new venue for everyone to enjoy. I’m looking forward to engaging with the community and partners in Blyth as we prepare to open the new venue next year.” 

Chair of the Blyth Town Deal Board and Owner of Fergusons Transport, Alan Ferguson OBE, said: “This is a real boost for Blyth helping us to deliver improvements that are much needed in the town centre.  

“The announcement today is a huge step for the town helping us to deliver our ambitions to grow, renew and connect the town.  Alongside the new Energy Central Campus and other major investment going into the town such as the new Northumberland Line this project will ensure the town has the facilities and attractions needed for the community to have confidence in the town centre with new experiences and opportunities on their doorstep. 

“Having always been a supporter of culture in the town it gives me much pleasure to see full time cinema coming back and I am sure the people of Blyth will welcome its return too.” 

Blyth Town Council Mayor Warren Taylor said: “Blyth Town Council welcomes the approval given to the investment in the new Culture Hub and Market Place project. 

“We look forward to working closely with the new commercial operators, colleagues at the County Council and the wider cultural offer in Blyth to improve the facilities, attractions and opportunities available to local people, and to help kick start the regeneration of our town centre.”