Storyhouse set for extra 10 years in current home

Cheshire's Storyhouse opened in 2017

A city theatre, library and cinema could be allowed to stay in its current home for another 10 years.

Storyhouse in Chester, which also includes a bar and restaurant, opened in 2017 on a 20-year lease.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) is set to decide whether to add another 10 years to the agreement.

Councillor Lisa Denson said Storyhouse had made a "huge contribution to Chester's reputation as a major cultural destination".

Denson, who is Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future, said around 40% of people who bought tickets for Storyhouse came from outside the borough and also spent money elsewhere in the city during their visits.

Storyhouse chief executive Annabel Turpin said: "Storyhouse has become a vital cultural hub for communities across the borough, and despite only being seven years old, many people tell me they can’t now imagine Chester without it."

The cabinet will vote on the proposed lease extension next week.

Storyhouse is based in what had been a 1930s Art Deco Odean cinema.

It employs, on average, about 142 people a year.