Vue

In Colchester, Essex, the Northern Gateway Leisure Park, situated alongside the main A12 road to the north of the city, is one part of the wider Northern Gateway development, which also includes the Colchester Community Stadium – home of Colchester United Football Club – a David Lloyd health and fitness centre and Colchester Sports Park with its cycling track and facilities.

At the Leisure Park, the first businesses opened in July 2023. Other major facilities include a Travelodge hotel and Hollywood Bowl - and Cineworld were contracted to provide the obligatory multiplex cinema.

However, due to the circuit’s financial difficulties, a contingency plan was put in place with the council. In the event, this was required, as Cineworld pulled out in October 2024.

The council initially announced that they were “exploring options” with at least two other operators. This was later expanded to four before, in October 2025, Vue was announced as the preferred operator.

The Vue cinema duly opened on Friday 22nd May 2026. The auditoriums are fitted out with the circuit’s signature “Ultra Lux” and “Lux” seats and one is their large-format EPIC screen.

Seating capacities are: Screen 1:85, Screen 2:127, EPIC:163, Screen 4:61, Screen 5:63, Screen 6:51, Screen 7:51, Screen 8:57 and Screen 9:57.

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