The Light, an independent cinema operator founded in 2007, recognised the challenges facing the cinema industry. It needed to provide quality leisure and dining offers beyond a great cinema experience to remain relevant and compete with home streaming.
At Banbury, the developer planned seven restaurants below the cinema, but when only three were leased, they offered The Light an additional 1,030 sqm of space. The Light recognised the opportunity and appointed us as the lead designer to work with their in-house team to develop and realise the next evolution of their cinema-centric entertainment destination.
This opportunity fully tested our ability to simultaneously advance multiple aspects of the project. We comprehensively understood the existing model, collaborated closely with The Light’s in-house team to develop new elements, submitted a new planning application for the roof terrace, and coordinated the shell adaptions with construction works ongoing. We minimised disruptions to the existing construction programme through proactive design leadership and clear communication with all stakeholders.
The scheme comprises a restaurant, bar, arcade, a 45-foot ten-pin bowling alley, pool hall, interactive darts, a nine-hole adventure golf course, karaoke club, climbing centre, outdoor dining terrace, and a seven-screen cinema complex. This innovative format offers commercial property developers a comprehensive turnkey solution for their entertainment, leisure, and hospitality needs.
Client
The Light Cinema
