Work is continuing to create Devon’s largest multiplex despite the uncertain future of the movie industry.
The boss of Merlin Cinemas, Geoff Greaves, said new seats, for the first phase of development, will be delivered soon at the former BHS store in Torquay. Planning permission for the 13-screen cinema was approved in August 2019 making it the biggest multiplex in Devon.
But that was before the coronavirus pandemic hit the º£½ÇÊÓƵ and seriously affected the industry, which has seen a number of firms shut their doors - including the temporary closure of Scott Cinema’s Alexandra, in Newton Abbot.
Meanwhile, the , which runs the IMAX-led multiplex in Plymouth’s £53million The Barcode leisure complex, has , until April 2021.
The Merlin chain has has itself closed its Torquay and Kingsbridge cinemas, while those in Okehampton and Ilfracombe are open with reduced hours.
And the cinema chain's founder admitted that the lack of a big "tentpole" new movie release means he is in no rush to complete the work behind the scenes inside the old BHS store in Union Street to create the first phase.
"There's no point in us rushing. If we were finished for Christmas there's no big movie for us to show," Mr Greaves said.
But despite the gloom following the announcement that the release of the Bond blockbuster has been pushed back to next year, Mr Greaves said work goes on in Torbay.
The cinema will have 13 screens over three levels ranging from 23 to 120 seats and will open from 8am to 3am.
The ground floor will have three screens, a restaurant and ice cream bar. There will be four screens and a party room in the basement, and six screens and a private bar on the first floor.
"With regard to Torquay, obviously we have been strongly hampered by coronavirus and not being able to get most of the team in there," Mr Greaves said.
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"But we are slowly getting there and the new seats are being delivered next week. We are hoping that as soon as the restrictions are lifted a little bit more we will be ready to open the first phase.
"We were all devastated by the news that James Bond is not coming out - we thought that would be the one to get people back into the habit of coming to the cinema again.
"We need a big tentpole movie and the ones we're waiting for are Peter Rabbit 2, Wonder Woman 2 or the new Dune sci-fi. But a couple have already been moved back into next year.
"Until they release something major to bring back the average cinema-goer it's basically impossible to get the business up off the floor."
The huge multiplex is a key part of Torquay Union Street's conversion from shop to leisure use. The high street has suffered from the departure of big names, with New Look leaving in April 2020 and the 10,0000sq ft store H&M closing in the former Woolworths building in October.
