A SPADE in the ground brought together a crowd of councillors and residents at the ground-breaking ceremony for Yate’s £25 million leisure complex.


Steve Webb, MP for Thornbury and Yate, broke the ground for the leisure complex, called Riverside, on Friday, March 13 at the Link Road car park, which is currently closed to the public to allow work to get underway.


The ceremony kicked off the construction of the cinema-led development and saw Yate Town Council and South Gloucestershire councillors, representatives from the complex developers Crestbridge, contractors ISG and members of the public gather in the rain to watch the ground-breaking and discuss the development.


Mr Webb said: “This was a very exciting occasion. We have been campaigning for a cinema for more than a decade, so to be able to see the building works getting going makes it all seem real at long last.


“With major new shops opening before Christmas and a cinema by this time next year, this new development will be a real boost for the people of Yate and the surrounding areas.”


The Riverside development will include a six-screen multiplex cinema operated by Cineworld, seven restaurants/cafes and three retail units specifically aimed at national high street chains.


Fashion retailer Next was confirmed as a tenant at the leisure development earlier this month, as well as two of the country’s most popular restaurant chains, Italian chain Prezzo and American themed Dean's Diner.


Crestbridge appointed group property controller, Mark Hull, said: “I always promised the people of Yate we would deliver a cinema for the town. It is has been a long and often tough ride but it is great news that work is starting onsite.

"This project is the fruition of many years work by the Member of Parliament, local councillors, and local stakeholders.


"We are aware that Steve has been campaigning for a cinema in Yate for well over 12 years and it is only right that he and the local community come together to celebrate the start of works."


ISG removed trees on the site last month and the main construction work can now commence with the retail and restaurant units being handed over to operators at the end of September this year for fit out, and opening scheduled for early December.


The six-screen cinema is scheduled to open by Easter 2016.