450k visitors a year will flock to Walsall cinema

The Light Cinema is to form the centrepiece of the £12m complex which will include a mixture of bars and restaurants.

General manager Phil Dove said there had been great enthusiasm for a cinema in the town centre and that bosses would look to recruit locally for the 40 full-time jobs being created.

Work on the eight-screen facility with more than 1,200 seats could start in May and be open by Easter of next year.

Mr Dove said they were delighted to be coming into the borough and wanted to work with other brand names which are being planned as part of the complex.

The company, which is anticipating an annual turnover of £3.5m, wants to show at least three new films a week and also offer theatre. Its most recent cinema to open was in New Brighton.

Mr Dove said: "There is a lot already happening here. Walsall is very, very exciting. We genuinely feel there is a big need for something like this in the community.

"Walsall has been so receptive to all the ideas we have.

"From speaking to people locally there is such enthusiasm for a cinema and people are prepared to travel to see the film they want.

"There are some great employment opportunities in Walsall.

"I employ local people to offer them an opportunity, to be part of the building blocks of our cinema."

He added: "It is a massive draw, we anticipate 450,000 admissions a year."

A range of food and drink outlets are planned to fit in with the cinema.

Up to five leisure units will be created either underneath or close to the cinema as part of the first phase of the scheme with up to five more further along the Waterfront.

It is anticipated all will be completed at the same time.

It comes as plans also go forward for a new Vue Cinema as part of the rival Cordwell Property development in Littleton Street.

Kier had initially been in talks with Odeon over their site but insisted they were delighted with the link-up with Light. More than 200 jobs are expected to be created as part of the overall project.

Senior development manager for Kier, James Nicholson, said: "What we are trying to do is create is a destination for leisure in Walsall. We need that vibrancy in the town centre, Light are exactly the right people to do that."

Mr Nicholson added: "The development of the scheme is going incredibly well so far; we've had such a positive response to the Waterfront scheme as negotiations with possible food and beverage operators continue."