Cllr Denise Hyland, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, along with Cllr Danny Thorpe, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainability, and Cllr Denise Scott-McDonald, Cabinet Member for Culture, Creative Industries and Community Well-Being, joined Adam Worrall, Operations Director, and other representatives from the construction firm Willmott Dixon at the commencement ceremony on Tuesday 30 January 2018.

Bringing people to Eltham

The Eltham Cinema development is a key feature of the Eltham Masterplan, which is being led by the Royal Borough Greenwich.

The project is part of the ambitious regeneration of the High Street, making it an entertainment destination for local people and the wider community, increasing the number of visitors to Eltham which will then help stimulate other businesses in the area.

'Major facility for the high street'

Cllr Denise Hyland said: "This project is making great progress and when it's complete it will provide a new six-screen cinema with a major cinema operator Vue Entertainment, two high profile restaurants and a Sky Bar. Not every council can say they have built such a major facility for the high street."

Pizza Express and Nando's have confirmed they'll join the new six-screen cinema complex, which will be run by Vue Entertainment. The venue will also include a Sky Bar on the first floor.

Plans to open in spring 2019

Councillor Danny Thorpe, Deputy Leader, said: "I'm delighted to be here to celebrate this momentous occasion of commencing the main works. It's really exciting to think that by the end of this year the main construction will be complete and then we can hand over to Vue to fit out the cinema and open in spring 2019."

'Positive difference this will make to the community'

Adam Worrall, Operations Director at Willmott Dixon, said: "We've been working in this borough for ten years and are very proud to be part of this bold new scheme. With local delivery from our Dartford office and working with our local supply chain partners, we understand the positive difference this will make to the community and look forward to a successful, quality completion of the next stage later this year."

The new cinema complex scheme will see new jobs created during the construction phase and once the complex opens, scheduled for spring 2019.