Phoenix 2020 extension now open
The process began back in 2016 with a strategic review, which generated an ambitious plan for expansion – ‘Phoenix 2020’. Years of fundraising followed, with support pledged by Arts Council England, Leicester City Council, ERDF, LLEP, The Foyle Foundation, The Garfield Weston Foundation, and the BFI. And then the pandemic hit, leading to lockdown, a prolonged closure, and unprecedented challenges. Amidst this uncertainty, work continued on our plans and finally, in September 2021, construction began.
We are now thrilled that our brand new extension is now open, giving us two additional cinema screens, a larger and more prominent gallery, and a superb Café Bar.
With four cinema screens, we will be able to show an even broader range of films from around the world – from the best Hollywood movies to low-budget independent releases, world cinema, documentaries, festival programmes, and work by local filmmakers – all handpicked by us, with more screenings throughout the day.
Our new gallery, located in the heart of the venue, will enable a step change in our art programme, giving us fresh opportunities to bring larger scale world-class artwork to the city.
And our new Café Bar is significantly bigger than our old one, with a stylish design, and more seating to suit a range of needs – whether you’re meeting friends for a drink, enjoying dinner before a screening, or using the space for a meeting with clients. The final element, our new roof terrace and event space, will open in early spring.
Six years in the making, Phoenix 2020 is finally here. Welcome to your new venue.