Rochdale’s pop-up cinema receives top reviews

Motaz and Ali Mohamed enjoyed their visit to Rochdale Exchange’s pop-up cinema

The town’s Easter holidays pop-up cinema received top reviews from local family film lovers last weekend, after a shopping centre brought its movie screen back to Rochdale.

Between Friday 6 and Sunday 8 April, hundreds of young film enthusiasts enjoyed the return of Rochdale Exchange’s movie theatre with screenings of fun family flicks including Cars 3, Paddington 2 and The Lego Ninjago Movie.

Lorenzo O’Reilly, Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre manager, said the first weekend of the school holiday cinema proved hugely popular. “There has been a real buzz in the centre with the return of our cinema and we were delighted to have such an incredible turnout for the opening weekend.

“Upon announcing the reappearance of our film-themed activity, we received glorious feedback from parents. One in particular mentioned that her son had struggled when going to a regular cinema, due to suffering with autism, but they had been pleasantly surprised by the cinema’s quiet, family-led setup, they attended three times and couldn’t wait to return."

The Rochdale Exchange screen, which is located opposite River Island, will play a selection of children’s favourites throughout the event at 11am and 2pm on selected days in the holidays.

Thecinema will re-open for it’s final showings between Thursday 12 and Sunday 15 April.

Lorenzo said: “For the rest of the week, we are inviting shoppers to come and shop at the centre, and then present their receipt to a steward to enjoy a fantastic children’s film on a day of their choice,”

“From Thursday, visitors will be able to enjoy Despicable Me 3, The Little Pony: The Movie and much more.”

*The special cinema will be open at Rochdale Exchange from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 April with showings at 11am and 2pm each day. To attend a screening, shoppers need to present a receipt from any Rochdale Exchange store, dated after Thursday 5 April, to the cinema team. A valid receipt entitles entry to up to two adults and two children or one adult and three children. Minimum receipt spend is £1.