Brighton cinema's can-can legs planned for North Laine branch (From The Argus)

Brighton cinema's can-can legs planned for North Laine branch

10:04am Monday 15th October 2012 in News

Brighton cinema's can-can legs planned for North Laine branch

The much-anticipated opening of a cinema in the heart of Brighton’s North Laine is set for December 6.

Bosses at the Duke of York’s Picturehouse confirmed that they were finally unveiling the two additional screens in the Komedia venue after eight months of planning.

December 6 will see a special VIP reception with the cinema opening to the public the following day.

John Barrenechea, the Duke of York’s general manager, said: “There has been a great reaction to the plans, especially due to the location.

“There will now be a cinema as well as comedy, music and children’s activities all in one venue. It’s very exciting.”

The screens will seat 150 and 100 people with the cinema also taking over the comedy club’s ground floor bar. There will also be another bar/cafe area upstairs.

Plans have been submitted to the council for a matching pair of the Duke of York’s iconic can-can legs to hang from the comedy club’s roof.

The fibreglass limbs will be coloured red and white to match the existing facade with the shoe of the right foot placed on top of the building’s roof.

Mr Barrenechea added: “We wanted to do something slightly different so we changed the colour and placed one of the shoes on top of the roof. The designs look really good and we’re looking forward to it being installed.”

Brighton-based artist Jamie McCartney has been commissioned to produce the piece with the finished designs being made in Shoreham.

Next week a polystyrene test model will be erected to test the size and look of the legs. Mr Barrenechea added that from December onwards the cinema would screen a full schedule of films seven days a week.

He said: “We’ve still got to put in the seating and the screens but we’re almost there.

“It’s all taking shape and the legs will very much be the icing on the cake.

“It is an extremely exciting time for us and we’re now very much looking forward to December.”

For the latest news and cinema times visit: www.picturehouses.co.uk/duke_of_yorks.