A NEW look cinema was due to be unveiled in Ipswich today after being given a face lift.A contract to run Ipswich Film Theatre has been given to Norwich-based company Hollywood Cinema, which already has six cinemas in East Anglia.

A NEW look cinema was due to be unveiled in Ipswich today after being given a face lift.

A contract to run Ipswich Film Theatre has been given to Norwich-based company Hollywood Cinema, which already has six cinemas in East Anglia.

The move by Ipswich Borough Council to sign the theatre in the Corn Exchange over for five years is expected to save them £500,000 during that time.

The last few weeks have seen the new operators give the cinema a new look, with new seats fitted in screen one, redecoration in the building and the re-opening of the box office.

The film theatre has been renamed Hollywood Film Theatre and visitors to today's first screening were able to watch new film The Simpsons.

New operators Hollywood have promised to keep up the Film Theatre's reputation of showing a wide variety of films, but have said the newest releases will also arrive at the venue much sooner.

Trevor Wicks, the man behind Hollywood Cinemas said taking on the film theatre was a big move for the company.

He said: “We obviously want to operate it and it will be a big investment for us, I'm looking forward to it.

“We are looking at a performance of between 80,000 to 100,000 a year, which will be a massive improvement.”

Mr Wicks said the cinema would not be expected to be a rival to the Cineworld multiplex in Cardinal Park and that he believed the two venues would attract different audiences.

He said: “The Corn Exchange is right in the middle of the town and we will be aiming to appeal to all groups of people.

“We'll be offering family tickets and special offers and you also get a really personal service. We offer something a bit different, we'll be offering a more traditional cinema.”

Mr Wicks said the company was also hoping to discover more about the history of the cinema.

“Over the next few months we'll be putting together a display of the history of the cinema in Ipswich, so we're hoping that people will help us out with things like pictures and memorabilia.”

What do you think about the changes to the film theatre? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk