A MULTI-million pound leisure development that has spent years in the making will finally open in Darlington this weekend.

Feethams Darlington has seen a £30m transformation of the former bus depot site to comprise a range of chain restaurants and an 80-bed hotel in one venue.

And the red carpet will be rolled out for the complex’s star attraction as the town welcomes a new nine-star Vue Cinemas multiplex to the site on Thursday (June 23).

The completion of the cinema marks the end to months of staggered openings for Bella Italia, Prezzo, Nando’s, The Woollen Mill and the Premier Inn with a festival planned to celebrate the occasion this weekend.

Simon Hawkins, development director for Feethams’ property development company Urban & Civic, said: “From day one, our stated aim has been to bring the best possible complete entertainment scheme to the town.

“For months now we’ve had to hide our excitement about which tenants were joining us and when we’d be opening, but now the long journey to make our vision a reality is almost over we wanted to show everyone that the wait has been worth it.”

Family games and entertainment will be on offer between 11am and 4pm on Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26, at the Feethams venue.