THE REGENT Centre in Christchurch reopened its doors earlier this month to a runaway success with sell-out showings over their opening weekend.

Following last month's easing of government restrictions, staff at The Regent were delighted to welcome back guests on Friday, June 4, with seven sell-out screenings, albeit socially distanced, of family favourite ‘Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway’ and the multi-award winning ‘Nomadland’.

Demand for tickets was so high that the box office ran a waiting list for customers eager to return to the big screen.

Regent Centre general manager Matthew Vass-White said: “We are delighted that we can finally get the doors back open again.

“The UK theatre and cinema industry has been through a particularly tough time since March 2020 and it’s encouraging to see really strong ticket sales for our forthcoming events.

“We’ve invested significantly into our beautiful building to make sure that it is fit for an audience in these unusual times but also that it is in great shape for years to come so we hope that when our audiences are ready, they enjoy not just the great line of films and shows that we have to offer but our refurbished building and services.”

In the coming weeks, film fans can look forward to a bumper line up at the Regent, including Disney’s live-action prequel feature film Cruella, to be screened for a week until June 17, plus the long-awaited musical In the Heights, starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, airing at the cinema for three days from June 18.

The Regent Centre is also busily taking bookings for live shows taking place well into 2022 with the opening live show being the Highcliffe Charity Players’ rendition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

Fittingly, as a community-based company, their opening night includes a thank you offer to all front-line workers and their families with tickets for £9.99.

This offer can be redeemed in advance only online, with a maximum booking of six people, or by phone.