A MAJOR cinema chain is the first blockbuster signing for the developers behind a planned regeneration of Dolphin Square.

Vue Cinema will provide an eight-screen cinema with more 1,000 seats in the planned new �35million town centre square by McLaren Life.

The cinema would be kitted out with 3D screens and stadium-like terracing to give uninterrupted views.

There will also be luxurious seating, including large VIP seats.

Geoff Moore, of Vue, said: “Vue are very excited at the prospect of creating a state of the art multiplex cinema for the people of Weston.

“Overall Vue are committed to providing a fantastic, customer friendly cinema and create what is likely to be the most technologically-advanced cinema in the South West.”

The announcement comes after McLaren Life held an exhibition in the town detailing its proposal for the tired shopping centre.

The firm wants to knock down the square and replace it with the cinema, hotel and line-up of top-brand High Street shops.

Director Simon Berry said: “We are delighted that Vue has committed to Dolphin Square and Weston and will be providing a 21st century facility that rivals anything in the West of England.

“This letting is the first piece of a jigsaw that will give residents and visitors the facilities the town deserves and ones that continue the regeneration of the West Country’s most important resort.”

Vue previously identified Weston as a target site when it signed up for Henry Boot’s �49million proposal for Lifestation@Tropicana, which was also to include a water park, hotel and bowling alley.

But the scheme was abandoned last year because of problems of funding behind the ambitious project.

McLaren Life took over the lease of Dolphin Square this year, and hopes to have a mix of between 20-25 leisure and retail units at the site by next spring.

The firm says it hopes to submit a planning application for the scheme before Christmas.