Wolverhampton’s independent Chubb Cinema, formerly known as The Lighthouse, is undergoing redevelopment ahead of an autumn 2025 reopening.
Here’s some great news amid the spate of cinema closures that we’ve heard about this year. Wolverhampton’s exciting Chubb cinema redevelopment is set to finally begin work next month with plans in place to reopen the venue in the later part of next year.
After barely surviving the pandemic, Wolverhampton’s beloved The Lighthouse closed its doors for the last time in late 2022 after undergoing a sustained period of incredible challenge. Based within a city centre which has suffered from years of economic hardship and deprivation, The Lighthouse saw its funding cut, footfall drop and despite the hard work of all involved, couldn’t stay afloat.
The closure came in the midst of several other beloved venues also shuttering and along with Cineworld’s more recent spate of closures, have struck a pretty glum tone for the future of UK cinemas. However, in very welcome news it looks like the venue formerly known as The Lighthouse will hopefully lead a revival for the sector with the news that major redevelopment of the site is set to begin in January.
That’s a few months beyond the projected summer 2024 date that the venue’s new operators, PDJ Management, told Film Stories they were hoping to achieve when we interviewed them over a year ago. The world’s been in a pretty topsy turvy state since then however which has of course affected supply chains.
PDJ certainly have plenty of experience when it comes to operating successful independent cinemas located inside unique venues: the company also runs the Dome in Worthing, the Majestic in King’s Lynn and five others, including the Royal in Sutton Colefield which the company took over in 2023 when Empire Cinemas went into administration and cancelled its plans to reopen the venue.
As for Wolverhampton’s Chubb Cinema (named after the locally-renowned Chubb Building – named for the company that used to manufacture locks there), while its final name may or may not change yet, some details have been locked down. The refitting will transform the venue from a two-screen cinema into a four-screen one. All new-seating, sound and projection equipment are being installed as part of a multi-million pound refurbishment.
The return of the Black Country’s only independent cinema will be a welcome one indeed, hopefully sparking a wave of more good news when it comes to the independent cinema sector. More on this one as we hear it.
