Talks underway for luxury cinema at Kyle Centre in Ayr

A luxury cinema could be about to move into the Kyle Centre in Ayr.

Irish-based cinema firm Arc is in talks about potentially moving into the shopping centre on High Street, offering reclining seats at no extra cost to customers.

South Ayrshire Council leader Councillor Douglas Campbell said: “The cinema would bring the whole day out experience. People could come to Ayr, go swimming and go to the cinema at night. The purpose of this is to improve footfall in the town centre to support local shops.”

Graham Hamilton, managing director of PJ Leggate, said: “We are in detailed discussions with a couple of operators. They both like the idea and the vision for the town. They are looking at it seriously. We are hoping to secure one of these and make progress.”

Arc is one of two companies considering an expansion to Ayr and has run a number of cinemas in towns in Ireland including Navan and Drogheda, which are of a similar size.

It is all part of a town centre action from South Ayrshire Council.

Bosses are looking at closing the Citadel Leisure Centre nearby and instead creating an Olympic class swimming pool in the Arran Mall as part of the proposals.

There are hopes it could open in 2023 following consultation.

A new public park is also to be built on the old Woolworths site at the Riverside, which has been cleared