'Cinema is in our blood' new Light House owners say

A firm with a 125-year link to the West Midlands has been chosen to run Wolverhampton's Light House cinema.

PDJ Management have a long-established cinema foothold in the Midlands and said "it was their blood".

For the Jervis family, acquiring the 30-year lease for the Fryer Street venue brought the company back to its Midlands roots.

"It makes us immensely proud. To be able to return is so very exciting," said James Jervis, the company's director.

The family's cinema history started in the 1870’s when Tom Jervis showed “flickering pictures “ at the Jervis Fairgrounds in the Lickey Hills.

The cinema chain started life in the 1920s when Miles Jervis acquired The Chase and The Alhambra cinemas in the Black Country and Staffordshire.

After World War Two, Miles Jervis II went on to own multiple cinemas across the region including the Plaza and the Palace.

The company's first multi-screen cinema opened in West Bromwich in 1975.

The business was sold in the 1990s with Paul and Deborah Jervis founding what is now PDJ Management.

The family has deep ties to Wolverhampton industry and the area, being related to the founder of Orbit, Omega and Diamond Motorcycles on Sedgley Street.

Mr Jervis said he felt running the family's cinema business was "in the blood."

"I am delighted to be carrying it on for the next generation," he added.

The Light House, based in the Grade II-listed Chubb Buildings in Wolverhampton, ceased trading in November after a 35-year stint in the city.

The new owners have promised a £2m revamp, which will include expanding the cinema to four screens.

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