We’d heard the rumours, and it’s now been announced that the Duke Of York’s is opening a new three-screen cinema upstairs at the Komedia. The screens will have 149, 110 and 32 seats each – just slightly more in total than the Preston Circus branch currently holds. There will also be a café/bar on the mezzanine at the entrance to the screens. Jamie ‘Great Wall Of Vagina’ McCartney will be making a new pair of legs for the Komedia branch.

The Gardner Street sequel will open in December and it’s promised that there’ll be no disruption to events in the downstairs room or the studio bar in the meantime. The original Duke’s will also get new seats and a redecoration at the same time, while at the Komedia the two remaining rooms will be refurbished with better sound, video and lighting equipment.

We’re rather excited about this. A shame the big room is going upstairs, but a new arts cinema in town is a very good thing for the city.