Basildon’s Vue cinema opening 'a boost for town centre'

Residents started filling the venue early on Thursday to catch the latest box office movies including Marvel’s - Deadpool and Wolverine and Disney’s Inside Out 2.

With the cinema opening just in time for the summer holidays, customers said the venue was “needed” for the area and has added “something different” to the town centre.

Exciting: Steve says the cinema was needed in the town centre. (Image: Newsquest)

The opening follows two years of delays after the opening of the multi-million pound cinema - originally set to be an Empire before the company went bust - was repeatedly pushed back. 

Cinema enthusiast, Steve Maguire, said: “It’s been empty for quite a while and we only live walking distance from here, so for it to finally open is very exciting especially since we have two young children.

“It’s nice to have something in the town, it was really needed. We went to watch Inside Out 2 with the boys and it was a great experience.

“It’s different to watch a movie on a big screen. You can’t beat the cinema.”

Exciting: Customers queue up to get their pre-movie snacks at the new Vue cinema. (Image: Newsquest)

Marvel fan, Matt Bryan, headed to the new cinema to catch the Deadpool and Wolverine movie with his son.

He said: “It’s great to have a cinema in the middle of the town. It’s nice to have somewhere to go and grab some food after.

“I am really excited for to us to try the nice new recliner seats here and hopefully it’s a good experience.

“I think it’s really going to help the area and help fill up some of the empty shops, bring back some life to the town centre and get more people down here.”

Exciting: Emma caught one of the first screening of Inside Out 2 with her children. (Image: Newsquest)

Emma Huggett, 41, said she had an “amazing experience” with her son as they caught one of the first screenings at the new venue.

She said: “It’s excellent and we really enjoyed ourselves. The cinema has so much space, you’re not very close to each other and there’s plenty of walk room.

“It’s also fairly reasonably priced. I think it will be a boost for the town centre and get more people down here. It was an amazing experience altogether.”