Plans have been submitted to convert Blackpool’s Odeon cinema into a trampoline park, indoor golf course or bowling alley. This comes amid speculation that the building on the Festival Park site may no longer be used as a cinema after next year. The 10-screen Odeon Multiplex opened at Festival Park in December 1998, replacing the Odeon on Dickson Road which was bought by entrepreneur Basil Newby and became home to his Funny Girls club.

But now Festival Park owner, Astringer Capital is seeking planning permission to change the use of the Odeon to indoor sport, recreation or fitness centre with sub-division of the ground floor to provide four food and drink outlets.

The design statement accompanying the application states: ‘The applicant wants to ensure the building will remain in active use in the event Odeon’s lease is not renewed. The Odeon cinema is at risk of becoming vacant in June 2023. However, the proposals seek to ensure its continued, effective use, whilst also improving the offer at Festival Leisure Park.’

The application includes the possibility of  upgrading the screens to the Odeon Luxe brand,  but states that this ‘would then compete with and draw trade from the new nine screen cinema that is currently being developed in the town centre at Houndshill shopping centre.’ This is because work has begun on building a nine-screen cinema including a premium large format screen which is due to open in Autumn 2023 as part of phase two of the Houndshill Centre on Tower Street.