Vue Basildon

In Basildon, Essex, in 2017, the council approved plans for the leisure aspect of the £26m East Square development, at the heart of a wider town centre regeneration programme. These were for six restaurant units and a 10-screen multiplex, which, it was said, would include the largest cinema screen in the county.

In June 2018 Empire Cinemas, who had once operated the out-of-town multiplex at the Festival Leisure Park (now a Cineworld – see separate Cinema Treasures entry) were announced as the operator.

Justin Ribbons, Chief Executive of Empire Cinemas, said “We are delighted to be partnering with Basildon Council and being a part of this exciting, innovative and forward-looking redevelopment project. We look forward to returning to Basildon and bringing our memorable cinema experience to East Square.” Carl Vann, a partner at Pollard Thomas Edwards, architects, said: “We have worked closely with Basildon Council and Empire to create an ambitious design which is inspired by the original spirit of the new town identity whilst being a distinctive 21st century leisure facility for the town centre.”

Delays were caused when the original contractor went into administration at the end of October 2019, but work resumed in January 2020 after the contract had been reassigned to McClaren Construction Group. Meanwhile, demolition contractor Squibb Group had continued to prepare the site for the construction phase.

Leader of Basildon Council Gavin Callaghan said: “Not only have we found a new contractor, but we’ve secured a better deal for Basildon, meaning we’ll be finished earlier than previously anticipated and there will be even more opportunities for local workers. Basildon town centre is being rebuilt and the cinema scheme is a major part of that plan. When you take on the biggest regeneration project since Basildon was created, especially against the backdrop of national economic uncertainty, there will always be bumps in the road. The true test was always going to be how we respond, and I’m pleased to say we’ve come through with flying colours. Throughout 2020 residents will see lots of activity around the town centre as our regeneration programme really starts to take shape. This is an exciting time for Basildon.”

The project was expected to be completed by spring 2021, but the building was not handed over to Empire until July 2021, with the internal fit-out still not completed. That work was said to have been completed by October 2021, and a revised opening date of February 2022 was announced – but this was then contradicted by a further announcement in December 2021 that the site was actually being handed over by McClaren to Empire that month, with the “grand opening” set for spring 2022.

In February 2022 restaurant Orleto Lounge became the first business to open in the complex.

In April 2022 it was announced that the Empire would open that July. But further delays, said to be due to [unspecified] supply issues caused by the war in Ukraine, resulted in this date being missed. In October 2022 it was announced by the council that the opening had been pushed back to December 2022, but that month came and went – and, on New Year’s Day 2023, the council backed away from that pledge and declined to provide a further opening date, claiming this was Empire’s responsibility. However, Empire, said to be in the process of completing the interior, failed to respond to requests for an update from the local Echo newspaper.

Meanwhile, Kaspa’s Desserts had opened in October 2022 (with Nando’s following in December 2023).

However, in July 2023 the Empire circuit went into administration. In August, the council took possession of the complex, forfeiting its lease with Empire. In the December, Councillor Craig Rimmer said that a deal with a new cinema operator “could be concluded by Christmas”.

However, it was not until February 2024 that he revealed that the “new operator” the council was in negotiations with was Vue.

The Empire signage was duly replaced, and the Vue opened on Thursday 25th July 2024.

The auditoriums have a mixture of recliner seats (with adjustable head and foot-rests) and standard seats: Screen 1: 48 recliner + 302 standard seats; Screen 2: 9 + 80; Screen 3: 10 + 52; Screen 4: 13 + 69; Screen 5: 12 + 39; Screen 6: 12 + 39; Screen 7: 12 + 39; Screen 8: 12 + 39; Screen 9: 8 + 30 and Screen 10: 27 + 171. The principal films on opening day were the superhero adventure “Deadpool & Wolverine”, the children’s favourites “Despicable Me 4” and “Inside Out 2”, and action adventure “Twisters”.

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