LIGHTS, camera, action: Trowbridge’s new £3.7m cinema has welcomed 7,000 customers since opening last Friday.

The seven-screen Odeon in Stephens Place has attracted people from across Wiltshire during the half-term holidays with films including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, Turbo and Captain Phillips proving to be a hit with the crowds.

Manager Nick Price, 28, said he’s been very pleased with the response from the public.

He said: “We’ve had lots of people from the town and surrounding villages, as well as people travelling from Chippenham. The reception that we’ve had has been fantastic, everybody has been really friendly and I think they are pleased to have a cinema in the town after such a long time.

“We’ve even had people dropping by to have a look around which is quite nice. This is a unique building and we are pleased to welcome everyone.”

On Monday the cinema welcomed 200 guests for a Wiltshire Times competition preview screening of the new Judi Dench and Steve Coogan film Philomena.

In support of Trowbridge Arts Festival, which finishes this weekend, the cinema screened a West End performance of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, on Monday.

Mr Price, who has moved from Wales to Hilperton, said: “The Wiltshire Times screening was really popular and it has been nice through a competition like that and being involved with the arts festival to welcome a wide range of different people with a diverse taste in film.

“We are very keen to continue working with the community.”

Last Thursday the cinema, which boasts a licensed bar and ice cream parlour, held a VIP launch event before its public opening, screening Captain Phillips, Rush and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 to an invited audience.

Work is still continuing at the £17m St Stephens Place Leisure Park which will have an 80-bed Premier Inn, a Nando’s, Prezzo and Frankie & Benny’s when it is completed. Nando’s is due to open on Wednesday, the hotel is opening on November 17 and Prezzo will open on December 12. There will be three more restaurants at the complex which are expected to be announced later this month.

For updates visit www.trowbridgecinema.co.uk.

l More cinema memories: Page 42