Omniplex lodge planning for restaurant next door to cinema

The company building a new cinema in Mullingar has applied for planning permission for a restaurant next door.

Omniplex Ltd's planning application includes details for the construction of a new part single, part two storey restaurant with a raised external dining area at first floor level that would be located next to its soon to be completed five screen cinema on the site where the Harbour Street Car Park was previously located.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, the chief executive of Omniplex Cinemas Ltd Mark Anderson said that the firm, which is the largest cinema group in the country, has no immediate plans to build a restaurant, but is “casting one eye to the future”.

“We don't have any current plan to develop the restaurant if we are lucky enough to receive planning permission. We do feel there will be a lot of activity with the cinema and we want to offer a complete entertainment package.

“Nowadays cinemagoers like to have maybe a meal and a drink. There is also a lot of passing trade on the canal.”

With the Dublin to Galway greenway, which passes through Mullingar, set to completed by 2025, Mr Anderson says that the expected increase in traffic along the canal towpath is “very much” at the forefront of his firm's future plans for the restaurant.

“It's not something that we are immediately considering developing but we do want to be able to move should the need arise,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Anderson says that Omniplex is pleased with how work is progressing on the cinema.

“We have a provisional opening date of Friday December 16. There are a lot of big movies coming out round that time.”

Onminiplex have started recruiting for management positions for the cinema and will begin the recruitment process for general staff in the coming weeks.