Food hall plan for Stalybridge’s iconic former cinema site

A FORMER Stalybridge cinema will be turned into an event space and food hall after it was bought by a company looking to revitalise Tameside’s entertainment and nightlife offering.

Monopoly Events, who have taken on Ashton-under-Lyne’s former Metro Majestic, have announced their plans for the site on Market Street familiar to many as the Palace.

And after calls for the town’s Civic Hall to be converted into a food hall, like they have in Altrincham, Stockport and at Manchester’s Mackie Mayor, the company says that is on the agenda for its site.

In a statement, it said: “We will be ripping out the venue in the new year and we will be converting The Palace into a multi-purpose event space and food hall.

“The venue will cater for live music events, stage shows, screenings, dance events, and will feature a craft ale bar offering and also multiple internal, independent food catering units.”

The iconic building first opened in July 1913 as the 750-seater Empire Picture Palace, before being re-named The Palace.

It eventually closed in 2003, after being taken over by an independent operator, and was converted into a nightclub the following year.

Formerly Rififi and Amber Lounge, it then became Khaleasi & The Platinum Lounge.

Now Monopoly Events, ran by chief executive Andy Kleek, say it is the latest acquisition in ‘a string of new investment and regeneration ventures in the Tameside area.’

Last year, Monopoly Events announced its intention to re-open the Metro Majestic Cinema on Old Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, which has been closed for almost 20 years, and restore it to almost its former glory.

The firm is also behind the recent reopening of a bar familiar to many people across Tameside.

Chute, on Bow Street in the town centre of Ashton-under-Lyne, established itself as one of the main nightlife venues across Greater Manchester in the late 1990s and 2000s.

The bar and restaurant opened its doors to the public at the end of last month and is not the end of Monopoly Events’ ambitions for the borough.

As Andy and the team set to redevelop the Stalybridge site, there will be three closing down parties on successive Saturdays, November 25 and December 2 and 9.

Monopoly added: “We have three very nostalgic nights we will be putting on for you, each will be a trip down memory lane and will be a last opportunity for you to relive some great memories.”