Virgin boss Richard Branson will unveil the prototype of a new chain of cinemas near Rochester, in Kent, next month. The Virgin Cinemas Multiplex, Rochester, is the first multi-screen cinema to have been fully fitted out by Virgin since its £190m acquisition of MGM Cinemas last year. The £5m complex will include several innovations, such as a premium viewing room and a retail unit selling records, books and videos in the foyer. The Branson group plans to open another 20 multi-screen complexes by the year 2000 and has secured sites for a third of them. The new complex, due to be officially opened on August 8, will contain nine cinemas and a total of 2,300 seats. The next new Virgin multiplex, is expected to be the 11-screen complex due to open in Wigan by early 1997.
- Financial Times 26/7/96 page 8
