The new-look Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle has reopened to the public following a $14m (£7m) refurbishment to bring the venue into the digital age, whilst restoring all its original art-house glory.

The cinema now boasts a modern extension with two new digital screens, to meet the demands of growing audiences in the area. The main building has also been restored to reveal many of its original art-deco features.

With extra work spaces and a new digital production lab inspired by film director and patron of the cinema, Mike Figgis, the venue is also designed to be a hub for film makers in the area.

Tyneside chief executive Mark Dobson said: 'The Tyneside aspires to be as much about making films as showing them, and filmmakers have all the facilities here to take a film from 'pre' to post' production'.

Built in 1937, The Tyneside is the last surviving purpose built newsreel cinema in Britain, and has been running as a full time art-house cinema since 1968. Before it closed temporarily for refurbishment in late 2006, the Tyneside was also the home of the Northern Lights Film Festival.

Dobson added: 'We are delighted to have been able to restore this piece of British heritage, and at the same time see the Tyneside secure its future in the digital age.'

Topics