Blyth Culture Hub construction starts
Construction has started on the new Culture Hub at the heart of Blyth’s Market Place, which will provide a meeting point for both cultural and social activities. The project includes three cinema screens operated by Jam Jar Cinema, a café, a space for creative activities and a studio for comedy, music and events.
The hub will provide a major attractor in Blyth, to increase vibrancy, footfall, and spending in the town, boost pride of place amongst local residents, encourage a night-time economy, and stimulate wider regeneration.
The project also includes landscape improvements to the town’s underutilised Market Place, with new greenery, seating and better provisions for weekly market traders and events. Responding to community feedback, these changes will provide a more intimate, safe and attractive space for residents and visitors to meet, sit and play.
The hub has been designed to encourage people to dwell and use local facilities, including the local Market and nearby shops, bars, restaurants and the wider cultural offer in the town.
Arranged in a simple, double-gable form, the building echoes the former Central Cinema which stood on the site until 1974 and complements nearby heritage assets, including the central conservation area and St Marys Church. The main studio, which has a 120-seat capacity for events, opens out to the Market Place and will be available to hire for meetings and celebrations.
Blyth Culture Hub is part of the £90 million ‘Energising Blyth’ regeneration programme which will help to grow, renew and connect the town. The programme is delivered by Northumberland County Council supported by Advance Northumberland and is funded through UK Government, Northumberland County Council and North of Tyne Combined Authority.
After the plans for the hub were approved last year, contractors Kier Construction Ltd began enabling works on the site. Construction is now well underway and expected to complete in summer 2025.
