WANTAGE’S new pop-up cinema has been declared a success after its opening night sold out.

The temporary cinema at the Civic Hall on Portway opened on January 24 with a screening of space thriller Gravity.

Run by staff at the hall – which is owned and managed by Vale of White Horse District Council – the cinema has been pitched to film fans as a replacement for the Newbury Street Regent cinema. That closed in 2005 after its owners said it was not profitable.

Civic Hall promotions officer Nicola Ferguson said: “The audience had a fantastic evening watching the Academy Award-nominated film and enjoyed an interval with the bar open – and in the tradition of great cinema, popcorn, hot dogs and ice cream.

“Tickets sold out and lots of people were turned away.

“One couple thanked us for bringing the cinema back to Wantage at long last.”

The cinema will continue to be trialled for three more weekends over the next three months with Friday evening blockbusters and Saturday morning children’s movies.

The next two films will be Philomena, on Friday, February 14, at 7pm, followed by animated adventure, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, the next day at 10am.

Friday evening tickets are £6 and on a Saturday morning screenings cost £2.

Tickets can be bought in person from the hall or by calling 01235 763456.