Bishop Auckland’s Brand-New REEL Cinema Opens March 2026
A brand-new REEL Cinema is set to open its doors in Bishop Auckland on Friday 27 March 2026, marking a major milestone in the town’s new retail and leisure park and bringing a community-focused cinema experience to the area.
Located within the Bishop Auckland Retail & Leisure Park, the new cinema will feature seven screens, showcasing the latest blockbuster releases, family favourites and event cinema in a contemporary, comfortable setting.
Alongside its film offer, the venue has been designed as a flexible social space for the community, with a licensed bar, integrated coffee shop, and hot food alongside all the classic cinema favourites. The cinema will also include bookable spaces available for private hire. This makes it suitable for birthday parties, school bookings, corporate events and community use, extending its role beyond the screen and into a true local entertainment hub.
Community groups, creative organisations and local partners interested in using the space or collaborating with us are encouraged to get in touch. We will be reaching out in due course as we build our opening calendar and community programme.
To support accessibility for all audiences, the Bishop Auckland cinema will offer a wide programme of subtitled, autism-friendly, parent and baby, senior screen and audio-described performances, ensuring the cinema is welcoming and inclusive.
The venue will also showcase the best live-streamed event cinema, bringing world-class theatre, opera, ballet and concerts to the big screen. From acclaimed stage productions to internationally celebrated performances, audiences will be able to enjoy cultural events typically found in major cities, right in the heart of Bishop Auckland.
REEL Cinema Bishop Auckland will act as a pilot site for new pre-show entertainment, introducing new on-screen content designed to enhance the experience before the film even begins. The cinema will also feature laser projection across its screens, delivering brighter images, sharper contrast and exceptional picture quality to ensure the very best cinema-going experience for customers.
Another standout feature of the new venue is its A+ energy efficiency rating, the highest possible rating in the UK. This means the building uses significantly less energy than a typical commercial cinema, resulting in a lower environmental impact and reduced carbon footprint, while still delivering a premium customer experience.
“Very few towns blend heritage and culture quite like Bishop Auckland. You can feel the town investing in its next chapter – building on its roots with new spaces for people and community to come together – and it’s a privilege for a family-owned independent like ours to play a small role in that. We’re also introducing a number of ‘firsts’ for REEL here, which feels exactly right in a place that’s looking forward while staying true to its identity.”
Sunil Suri, Director, REEL Cinemas
The opening of the cinema represents a major boost for Bishop Auckland, completing Phase One of the wider retail and leisure park and strengthening the town’s evening economy. The venue will create 30 jobs locally and provide residents with a high-quality entertainment option on their doorstep.
Further details about opening celebrations, programming and ticket sales will be announced closer to launch.