Construction complete on flagship venue in Blyth town centre
30 Jul 2025
The much-anticipated Market Pavilion in Blyth’s town centre is now officially complete - marking a major milestone in the town’s renewal.
Built on the historic site of Blyth’s former central cinema and music hall on the Market Place, Market Pavilion honours the town’s rich cultural past by returning the space to its former role as a focal point for arts and entertainment.
Designed to bring people together through film, events, and social experiences, the new venue includes a state-of-the-art luxury three-screen cinema operated by Jam Jar Cinema, offering a world-class, affordable film experience. The venue also features a stylish lounge bar, a welcoming café, and Studio 25 - a flexible performance and event space hosting everything from live music and comedy to markets and exhibitions.
The build has seen a real focus on renewable energy, as befits the area’s reputation as a hub of green industry, with solar panels and a fully electric powered building.
The Market Place itself has also been redeveloped with a focus on creating spaces for events and festivals, increased landscaped areas, biodiversity and areas to sit and relax.
Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Cabinet member for Regeneration at Northumberland County Council, said: "The completion of this phenomenal venue marks a significant moment for Blyth.
“It represents our shared commitment to revitalising the town centre and we’re looking forward to the public being able to enjoy the space and the incredible experiences it will offer as the regeneration of Blyth continues at pace. The new venue and revitalised Market Place responds to community feedback to create a more welcoming, safe and accessible town centre with lots of experiences to enjoy.
“We want to thank everyone involved in this capital project for their dedication and hard work to get Market Pavillion ready for this summer for everyone to enjoy.
“Thanks must also go to local businesses and market traders for their support while we have undertaken these works. It really is a fantastic venue and we hope it will bring much joy to the residents of Blyth and to those further afield.”
The operator of the venue is the award-winning Jam Jar Cinema, Founder Dan Ellis, said: “It’s a huge honour for Jam Jar Cinema to be part of this next chapter in Blyth.
“We're having a soft launch during August to get used to the new building, come and have a sneak peak. We will be delighted to welcome audiences to Market Pavilion to experience everything we have to offer - centred on blockbuster films, Hollywood titles and best of British movies. Plus, locally made shorts, events, gigs and creative activity – all in a space designed with the people of Blyth in mind.
Alan Ferguson OBE, Chair of Blyth Neighbourhood Board and owner of Ferguson’s Transport Ltd, added: “This is another real boost for Blyth and a cornerstone for the town centre’s renewal.
“Blyth is already a fantastic town in so many ways and the Market Pavilion will kick start the renewal of the town centre and make the town an even better place to live, work and invest adding to the existing range of culture and community activities across the whole town.”
The venue is the Council’s Energising Blyth Programme’s flagship town centre scheme. It is designed by a multidisciplinary team led by Faulkner Brown Architects with Advance Northumberland providing Project Management Services and constructed by contractor Kier Construction Ltd.
Croft County Councillor Mark Peart said: “The new Market Pavilion is a truly transformative development for Blyth.
“It represents our commitment to revitalising the town centre, supporting local culture, and creating a vibrant space for everyone in the community. I’m incredibly proud to see this vision becoming a reality, and I look forward to the positive impact it will bring for generations to come.”
The completion of the building comes as the town gears up for eight months of free entertainment courtesy of Blyth Celebrates. From August 2025 to March 2026, the town centre will come alive with a vibrant programme of free events, festivals, live performances, hands-on activities and creative experiences for all ages.
The Market Pavilion and Market Place will open from Friday 1st August from noon and cinema bookings can now be made online at www.marketpavilion.co.uk
The next three weeks sees a soft launch period prior to the launch weekend on Saturday 23rd August linked to the new Blyth Celebrates events programme.
The Blyth Celebrates Launch Weekend on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August will mark the grand opening of the Market Pavilion and kick off an exciting new creative programme for the town.
Taking place in the newly revitalised Market Place, just outside the Pavilion, the weekend will feature free live music, street theatre, creative workshops, performance and family-friendly entertainment – all designed to bring the community together and celebrate Blyth’s creativity and spirit.
Councillor David Swinhoe, Mayor of Blyth Town council said: “We can’t wait for the new venue and Market Place to re-open. This is such an exciting time for the town with a host of events and festivals launching from the summer to celebrate our town.
“The Town Council will be playing its part in bringing the town alive through our comprehensive events programme in partnership with the Blyth Celebrates Programme.”
The Market Pavilion and Blyth Celebrates are part of the £95m Energising Blyth regeneration programme to grow, renew and connect the town. It is being delivered by Northumberland County Council, funded by the UK Government, Northumberland County Council and North East Combined Authority, with support from other partners.
For the full event listings for Blyth Celebrates visit: www.blythcelebrates.co.uk