A state-of-the-art cinema in Basildon is a step closer to becoming one of the biggest in the UK.

The 12-screen UCI cinema on the town's Festival Leisure Park would be just the second in the country to have as many as 20 film screens.

The venue, which only opened eight months ago, is looking to a brighter future after a slow start.

It was this week named as one of the top ten highest attendance pullers of the UK's 34 UCIs, after viewers flocked in their thousands to see two Oscar-nominated films.

A Bug's Life and Shakespeare in Love saw ticket sales reach record highs at the 3,000-seater multiplex.

During the weekend, a total of 12,000 visitors dropped in to catch a show - 60 per cent of those went to see new release A Bug's Life.

Plans to expand to an impressive 20-screen cinema were originally put on hold until trade picked up.

Bosses are now hoping to start looking seriously at the idea in the summer after showing what they predict will be the "busiest film of the year" - new Star Wars film The Phantom Menace.

Robert Woodhead, duty manager at UCI in Basildon, said: "We have a lot of offers and merchandise planned for the big films.

"We are offering Bug's Life cinema boxes, and during half term next week we will be giving two Cokes and two popcorns for £5.

"Tickets for all films during that week will cost £3.25 before 5pm. That should bring in the youngsters.

"People are realising we are here now and they want to see big films on our state-of-the-art screens. With the release of Star Wars in the summer, we are predicting our busiest time. Everyone will want to see a classic story in the best cinema.

"We will be having Star Wars in six screens, which have 2,000 seats between them. That will give the opportunity for 14,000 people to see the film per day alone. No other cinema in Essex will be able to offer that.

"This does seem to be the upturn of the cycle. It is about time we got a few more visitors and we are really happy about it."

The expansion rests on the attendance numbers and council planning permission, which is not due to be considered until the summer.

Mr Woodhead said: "The company sees the expansion as a wonderful opportunity, but it will not happen until the numbers are up. There is no point adding eight new screens if we cannot fill the 12 we already have."

(Right) - Flick the ant and chums in A Bug's Life, which is proving to be a huge draw at Basildon's UCI cinema

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