A new independent cinema will open in Leigh this summer. The inside of Leigh Film Factory is currently under development and the public can get a small glimpse of what is to come after the team decided to offer a sneak peek.
Built by community volunteers, the cinema will open in the historic Spinners Mill following a two year delay as a result of the Covid pandemic. The cinema seats are all in place and the hospitality area is just a few weeks away from completion.
The ticket desk and bar are built entirely from reclaimed Spinners Mill floorboards.
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Leigh Film Society, who are behind the project, have tried where possible to recycle and reclaim to maintain their green ethos - including the cinema seats. Leigh Film are members of Manchester Arts Sustainability Team (MAST).
Salford-born Christopher Eccleston and Atherton’s own Matthew McNulty were joined as patrons for the society by Shameless' Ben Batt, and former Coronation Street actress Sacha Louise Parkinson as well as former MP for Leigh Jo Platt. All five of them have given their backing to the cinema which hopes to provide a real alternative to Cineworld in the Wigan borough town.
The Park Lane site will look to host different types of events and festivals dedicated to film and bring cinema to those who previously found it unattainable due to high prices. This includes hosting the first event at ‘Pride In Leigh’.
Elizabeth Costello, development director at Leigh Film Society, said: “People don’t have to go to Manchester or Liverpool, they can come to Leigh and see high end films. We want to put on events like autism friendly showings and Scandi film nights for the true film buffs.
“We also want to put on the blockbusters as well though. Over the years we have been doing this we have put film before profit.
“We want to make sure that cinema is for everyone. Film is for everyone, if you have a disability or are less well off, we want you to be a part of it.”
The team at LFS want to push peoples film choice boundaries a little, offering a mix that includes classics, foreign language, art house and films that most have likely never even heard of. The not-for-profit society was founded in 2013, growing steadily over the years, and the community members who run it want more people to get involved in the cinema that is all for them.
The new cinema at Spinners Mill will host the Wigan and Leigh Film Festival at the end of September where the society looks to celebrate and showcase up-and-coming talent from across the world. The festival will screen everything from comedies and dramas to documentaries and animation.
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