WILMSLOW film fans’ long wait for the return of the Rex Cinema is almost over, with the cinema set to officially open tomorrow, Friday.

The cinema first opened in 1936 with a screening of Captain Blood, starring Errol Flynn, and closed 23 years ago, in 1995, with a screening of An Awfully Big Adventure.

The cinema is being re-opened by Sophie and Louis Mundin following a campaign by the Rex Revival Group to see the Rex return to the town.

The Rex announces its long-awaited return tomorrow by showing Bohemian Rhapsody, Fantastic Beasts, It’s A Wonderful Life, Mary Poppins Returns and The Grinch.

Sophie and Louis announced the long-awaited opening date of the cinema at the Christmas lights switch-on in the town.

They helped to turn on the festive lights and thanked the townspeople for their amazing support for the reopening of the long-closed cinema.

Sophie told the crowd at the switch-on: “I would like to say a really big thankyou to everyone in Wilmslow for your amazing support.

“We are so excited to get the Rex back open and the films on the big screen in Wilmslow where they belong.”

The cinema hosts a sold-out black tie champagne and canapes evening today, Thursday, before a special preview screening of Colette starring Keira Knightley.

The evening is being held to raise sponsorship to help restore the Terrazzo staircase to its former glory.

Yesterday, Wednesday, the cinema staged a special preview of The Greatest Showman, with profits being donated to the Wilmslow Aid Trust. People were able to win tickets to the screening by entering a prize draw.

As the guests arrived last night they were met by the Magic Voices choir in the foyer, singing a mixture of festive and songs from the shows.

Ahead of the film, the choir sang in the auditorium before Tony Mundin spoke, thanking the people of Wilmslow for their support, telling funny stories about running cinemas and encouraging people to tell everyone the cinema was now open.

There was an enormous cheer when the curtains opened and the film started.

At the end there was a rapturous round of applause and many audience members remained seated until the last credit rolled.

One of those attending last night's screening was Cllr Angela McPake, vice-chairman of Wilmslow Town Council.

She said: "I was thrilled to be at opening night. This time last year we had just started investigating as a town council what we could do to try and get a cinema back in Wilmslow, so to be at the opening night of a refurbished Rex within a year was brilliant.

"I don’t mind admitting that I was quite emotional when the curtains opened.

"It's a huge credit to the Mundins that they have managed to go from signing the lease to opening in just 18 weeks.

"I know I don’t need to encourage people to visit, but when you do look out for the bespoke popcorn boxes and mugs."