Centrepoint plans unveiled

The 1.6million four-screen cinema and 10-pin bowling complex was at the converted McCrory Scaffolding and Engineering Works on the Portadown Road. It was financed by the McCrory family and was to eventually cost 2.5million and create 100 jobs in the next five years.

Mr McCrory said: “The Centrepoint venture is the first of its kind in Ireland. I had the idea about two years ago but it has begun to take shape in the last six months.

“Nobody else has four cinemas, 10 lanes of 10-pin bowling, a multi-purpose leisure hall, fast food bar, video arcade and bar. The complex covers 36,000 square feet on a five acre site and this is phase one.

“Phase two will take in a further 10 lanes of 10-pin bowling and another food bar and phase three will be an indoor water world with chutes and slides like the one in Portrush.”

The Centrepoint boss said 60 full-time and part-time jobs were to be created at the initial stage, rising to 100 when the complex was to be completed.

Mr McCrory said he was excited by the scheme and knew from research that he was on to a winner: “Coopers and Lybrand did a very detailed market research study and all the signs were good. From Newry to Armagh everyone was very interested.”

Managing director of Centrepoint Leisure Ltd, Dermot McCrory, added: “This development is also for the people of Lurgan - not for any particular part - but for everybody.

“We expect people to come from all over the province. There will be a taxi rank, a bus park and a 300 space car park.”

Centrepoint was expected to provide a much-needed boost to local cinema-goers as the nearest cinema was in Banbridge.

They also planned to show cartoons on Saturday mornings and management hoped to have the 10-pin bowling area open from 10am to 1am every day.