Experienced independent commercial operator, PDJ Management Ltd (PDJ),
have been selected as the successful bidder from a group of eight
experienced independent operators and creative organisations who submitted
formal expressions of interest in the Fryer Street venue.
PDJ already run successful cinemas in Worthing (The Dome Cinema),
Romford (Premiere Cinema), Kings Lynn (The Majestic Cinema) and Lytham
St Annes (Island Cinema) and have put forward a proposal to convert the
6,625sqft council-owned space from an out-dated two-screen venue to a
newly refurbished four-screen cinema.
The council and PDJ will be making a £2million joint investment in the critical
refurbishment and fit-out programme and entering into a 30-year lease, while
the new-look venue is predicted to attract up to 130,000 visitors a year to the
city centre at full flow and boost the local economy by half-a-million-pounds
annually, with three permanent and 20 to 25 part-time jobs created.
The council is also working closely with the Chubb Buildings landlord,
Midlands Industrial Association (MIA), who oversee a range of businesses
already within the buildings, on the scheme.
Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, said:
“We had an impressive response to our call out for expressions of interest,
which shows there is a strong appetite for leisure opportunities in our city
centre.
“I am delighted to announce PDJ as the preferred operator - they are suitably
qualified cinema and entertainment experts, and it has been exciting to learn
about their vision for the space and their confidence in our city.
“We were particularly impressed with PDJ’s commercial and social value track
record which they have sustained in their other venues over a significant
period of time - and by their confidence that the new cinema offering will
provide accessible and ‘affordable luxury’.
“They have a sound and sustainable plan that will further enhance our arts,
culture and entertainment offer for residents and visitors to Wolverhampton.”
James Jervis, Director at PDJ Management said: “We are incredibly
enthusiastic about the potential of the venue at the Chubb and excited to be

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bringing cinema back to the city centre of Wolverhampton. We see this as a
significant step for our independent, family run, group of cinemas, opening a
site in the Black Country, more than 100 years after our family started its
association with cinema in the region through Miles Jervis. We hope to see
this luxury yet affordable venue prove very popular with the city and we plan
on engaging with the local arts community to showcase the best creative
talent of Wolverhampton alongside the planned core offering of major, first run
releases. This will be a cinema for all, aimed at everyone from families and
students to seniors.”
Andy Munro, Chairman of Midlands Industrial Association said: “MIA are very
pleased to see the space brought back into use and are looking forward to
welcoming PDJ Management to the Chubb Building. We were pleased to be
part of the selection process, working in partnership with the Council to deliver
this outcome. The Chubb Building is one of Wolverhampton’s premier and
iconic heritage buildings and we are pleased that PDJ will be part of an
already strong array of successful tenants.”