March 22, 2018 6.51 pm This story is over 72 months old

Everyman is coming to Lincoln! Boutique cinema and rooftop restaurant approved

Unanimous… well almost.
Designs for the new Everyman Cinema in the Cornhill Quarter.

Councillors have given the go-ahead to plans for an Everyman independent boutique cinema and rooftop restaurant as part of the ambitious Sincil Street redevelopment.

The new cinema will form the next stage of Lincolnshire Co-op’s £70 million regeneration of the Lincoln Cornhill Quarter.

Everyman will sit opposite the newly refurbished Corn Exchange building and will face onto Exchange Square.

The cinema will have comfy sofa seating, a private screening lounge available to hire, and a bar selling wine and hand-rolled pizzas.

Shops, national restaurant chains, and other leisure and financial services are expected to move into the new building, which is anticipated to open by Autumn 2019.

1-4 Cornhill Pavements and 7-8 Sincil Street built in the 1980s will be demolished as part of the scheme as they are considered to have little architectural merit.

The frontage of the new building will be pushed back to give locals and visitors a full view along Sincil Street.

Everyman is known for its comfy interiors.

Landlords Lincolnshire Co-op hopes the new building will provide additional incentives for national retailers to come to Lincoln, and allow the city to compete with more established shopping destinations in the East Midlands such as Nottingham and Derby.

Ursula Lidbetter, CEO of Lincolnshire Co-op, gave a passionate case to councillors for why they should support the development.

She said that the 1980s blocks had not stood the test of time and the Cornhill Quarter redevelopment “would not compromise on quality”.

She added: “We think the finished product will be a new addition to the city centre which I think we will be all able to be proud of.”

An example of the Everyman Cinema design.

Councillor Naomi Tweddle, representing Minster ward, said that the development looked brilliant.

She said: “You couldn’t get opposites to what we have now and what these plans look like. This is the kind of thing we want in Lincoln.”

Her Labour colleague, Councillor Biff Bean, echoed these views, and said that the Co-op should be applauded and commended for the work.

There will be a rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking the cathedral.

However, not all councillors were overwhelmingly positive.

Councillors Gary Hewson and Bob Bushell, who voted in favour of the proposals, were not completely convinced about the designs, and said that they hoped the building would not date.

Councillor Paul Gowen, representing Birchwood, decided to abstain.

Everyman was so confident about receiving planning permission that it announced in November 2017 that it was coming to Lincoln.

Crispin Lilly, CEO of Everyman Cinema, said: “We’re looking forward to coming to Lincoln.

“It is such a vibrant city with an incredible heritage and we are proud to become a part of the Cornhill Quarter.”