WAREHAM' S historic Rex Cinema is set to reopen this week after nine months of closure due to the pandemic.

Forced to shut its doors in March, along with countless other venues up and down the country, the Rex is scheduled to reopen with a bang on Thursday, December 17.

It will host a live mini-gala to celebrate its upgraded interior, which has been completed while in lockdown.

Rex chairman David Evans said: "At the Rex we always turn adversary into an opportunity, so we decided to refurbish the ground floor of the building to provide better disabled facilities, a new bar and new toilets, all in Art Deco style."

The Rex opened in 1921 with silent movies and has run continuously since then through the roaring ‘20s, depression of the ‘30s and the Second World War, up until March 20, this year, when it was forced to shut due to coronavirus restrictions.

It is believed to be one of the longest running independent cinemas in the country and it is the central venue for the annual Purbeck Film Festival.

As part of its latest revamp, some 16,000 Victorian-style tiles have been laid.

Cinema supporters say the venue is now well prepared to celebrate its centenary in 2021.

A spokesman for the Rex Cinema said: "The Rex Cinema would like to acknowledge the kindness and generosity of all those who have made this refurbishment possible, including the BFI, The Talbot Village Trust, The Co-op, Original Style Tiles, Sainsbury’s, Rotary Club of Wareham, Wareham Lions and many other groups and individuals.

"The community cinema is run by a charity and 47 unpaid enthusiastic volunteers who undertake the role of duty manager, projectionist, bar person and usher."

Visit therex.co.uk for information about what's going on at The Rex.