CHESTER'S new cinema has confirmed its opening date, with its first film screenings announced.

Chester Picturehouse, a six-screen cinema at the heart of the Chester Northgate development, has confirmed it will be opening its doors on Friday, November 10.

The cinema chain had been due to open its doors several months earlier, but was delayed amid uncertainty over the financial health of parent company Cineworld.

But Picturehouse had since been back in action in Chester, with finishing touches put to the cinema in recent weeks.

The latest addition to the Picturehouse Cinemas family, hot on the heels of London’s Ealing Picturehouse which opened in October, Chester Picturehouse features interiors influenced by the pastels and 20th-century design of Wes Anderson’s iconic film, The Grand Budapest Hotel.

The site boasts an original mural designed by multidisciplinary artist Murugiah, a first-floor café and bar, and a selection of the very best the world of film has to offer.

To kick off its opening weekend, the cinema will be showing the Palme d’Or-winning Anatomy of a Fall, Disney’s latest superhero extravaganza The Marvels, and the Nicolas Cage-starring Dream Scenario.

There’ll also be chances to see recent favourites such as Killers of the Flower Moon, How To Have Sex, Past Lives and Barbie, along with a season dedicated to a Chester local hero: 007 himself, Daniel Craig, which is set to bring back Layer Cake, Knives Out, and gold-standard Bond outings Casino Royale and Skyfall.

Tickets will be on sale soon at picturehouses.com/chester.

Chester Picturehouse also arrives just in time for The Great Feast, Picturehouse’s Christmas season celebrating the magic of food on screen at a time of year filled with delicious delights. This encompasses familiar festive favourites like Elf, Die Hard and It’s a Wonderful Life alongside gourmand gems such as Babette’s Feast, Tampopo and Phantom Thread.

The cinema will provide food offerings such as toasted spianata and pizzas.

Cllr Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “The opening of Chester Picturehouse is a wonderful achievement and I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this fantastic new cinema to fruition.

"The new cinema will be a cornerstone of the Northgate development and brings a very welcome return of multi-screen cinema entertainment back into the city centre.”

Clare Binns, managing director of Picturehouse Cinemas, said: “It’s so exciting for us to be opening the doors to our 28th Picturehouse.

"We’re all about cinema being at the heart of the community, and we couldn’t have asked for a better location - alongside the bustling Chester Market and next door to the fantastic Storyhouse.

"It's a great space for us to bring the best films to Chester, along with providing a relaxing place to hang out with friends and family. We look forward to welcoming you into our newest palace of film.”

Chester Picturehouse Founder Membership is on sale now. The first 1,000 customers who purchase an annual Membership for the new cinema will get their names installed in the building, on a specially commissioned Founder Members’ Wall. The Memberships will also include 15 months for the price of 12, from when the cinema opens its doors.