The new multi-million pound Kingsgate Leisure cinema and entertainments venue is on track to open around Easter 2025, it has been revealed.

The three-storey development will transform Huddersfield’s Kingsgate Centre, creating a unique destination to eat, drink, play and shop.

The top floor will house a six-screen cinema, operated by The Light, with the middle floor – the perfumes and handbags section of the former House of Fraser store – having a nine-lane bowling alley and a climbing wall.

There will be ‘virtual’ games, arcades and food and drink – with more details to be revealed shortly. The ground floor fronting Zetland Street will have Laser Quest and bars and restaurants.

Kingsgate Centre manager Jonathan Hardy said the development represented one of the biggest investments in the town centre since Kingsgate opened in March 2002.

“Putting all these different entertainment elements into one venue is, we believe, unique in Yorkshire,” said Mr Hardy.

“You will find them separately in other places but not in one venue, which makes it unique.”

Kingsgate teamed up with The Light as they wanted one operator for the whole complex to “create something that no-one else has created in this region.”

 

 

 

 

Contractors have handed over the building to The Light and work is now underway to create the cinemas. Each auditorium will have around 150 seats. The first two photos above show the work on-going inside Kingsgate and the other is an example of what a finished cinema could look like.

The Kingsgate Centre is re-inventing itself and Mr Hardy said retail alone was no longer the main driver for visitors and people’s expectations had changed.

“Everybody wants an immersive experience now including leisure and retail.”

Mr Hardy said the new ground floor restaurants and bars could be a catalyst for others to move into Zetland Street and King Street, providing a springboard for hospitality in the town centre and the night-time economy.

The on-going works have already created a buzz with enquiries coming in asking about corporate events for Christmas.

This was a little premature and Mr Hardy added: “We now have six months to get this right. It’s a great time to be part of Huddersfield.”

 

The roof of the Kingsgate Centre has been raised to accommodate the cinema complex

 

Three weeks ago The Light announced a takeover by hospitality entrepreneur Luke Johnson, Risk Capital Partners and cinema and leisure investors Melcorpo. The deal will allow the business to invest more than £15 million with the aim of doubling its size.

The Light has developed a unique entertainment model which includes bowling alleys, mini golf, interactive darts, climbing walls and karaoke in addition to its state-of-the-art cinemas.

James Morris, CEO of The Light, said: “Our talented team have worked hard over the last few years to develop a commercially robust model which protects cinema, re-imagines entertainment and creates unique spaces.

“We strive to offer the best quality, value and experience, with each venue tailored to meet the needs of the local market.”

The Light currently operates 13 cinema and leisure venues and Kingsgate Leisure is set to be its largest project so far.

The cost of the development has not been revealed but Kirklees Council gave a loan of £7 million to allow the scheme to go ahead.

 

Where the bowling alley is being constructed inside Kingsgate Leisure