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These are the first pictures from inside the Cardiff Capitol shopping centre cinema due to re-open next week after laying unused for 15 years.

Premiere Cinemas, which runs venues in locations such as Romford and King's Lynn, has invested a seven figure sum into the venue which has been completely refurbished and is set for an opening date of Friday, April 17.

The cinema also features almost 1,000 seats which can rock backwards and have been imported from southern California.

Tickets for every film will be £4 each.

Work began on refurbishing the site in October last year and the majority of the project has been carried out using local contractors.

Paul Jervis, owner of Premiere Cinemas, talks about the company's fifth cinema:

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RELATED ARTICLE: 20 jobs being created as Premiere Cinemas breathes new life into former Odeon in Cardiff's Capitol Shopping Centre

Premiere Cinemas owner Paul Jervis said: "The reason we are launching in Cardiff is opportunity.

"Word had got round how successful our Premiere Cinema in Romford had been.

"We were approached by the landlords here (at the Capitol shopping centre) to see if we would be interested in this site.

"In all honesty I was unsure, because there is a variety of cinemas in the town already but I came down to look at it and I honestly believe buildings have a feel.

"It just felt like a good cinema."

The cinema will be run by general manager Nathan Raikes and manager Gareth Davies who were both formerly managers at the Cineworld cinema group.

Mr Raikes said: "Cinema is constantly evolving and the way films are distributed is definitely different but I don't think it is going to hinder people coming to the cinema.

"People come to the cinema for a night out."

The Cardiff Odeon then and now:

Mr Jervis said cinema is a hugely expensive experience to enter into and added: "Seating alone, we have almost 1,000 seats in this building so seating is a huge investment.

"Projection equipment is a huge investment.

"It is a high risk industry, margins have to be met, budgets have to be met but above all you need to be on the ground and keep control of it.

"Our company isn't overly large and we can work together as a team, the management, the directors and the floor staff, we all work together to improve each individual site and what we offer."

Premiere Cinemas Cardiff £4 Ticket price 5 Number of screens April 17 Opening date Premiere Cinemas Cardiff

The Premiere Cinemas boss said the ticket price of £4 works for his firm and said: "It is not a matter under cutting competitors, it is a matter of bringing new people to the cinema.

"We found in Romford that we have introduced a new customer base who said before you opened we simply could not afford to come to the cinema as a family unit.

"The price works for us, yes it cuts margins but its still there and its still strong."

It is understood the Capitol shopping centre is now in talks with several restaurant operators as a result of the launch of the Premiere Cinema.

RELATED ARTICLE: Lights! Camera! Meal! Cardiff Capitol shopping centre in talks with restaurants as Premiere Cinemas prepares to open

It is understood the restaurants are in discussion with the centre and are waiting for the cinema to open and footfall to be evaluated before confirming.

The Capitol shopping centre is currently home to Pret A Manger, Cafe Nero, Cafe Caribe and Soho Coffee Company but does not currently host a restaurant.

Which restaurant would you like to see at the Capitol shopping centre?

poll loading Which restaurant would you like to see at the Capitol shopping centre? 0+ VOTES SO FAR TGI Friday's Pizza Express Frankie and Benny Nando's Zizzi Bella Italia Wagamama Prezzo Yo Sushi Giraffe

News of the launch of Premiere Cinemas in Cardiff also comes as the Art Deco, former Odeon cinema building at Clarence Place, Newport, has gone on the market for offers of more than £300,000.

The Grade II listed detached building has an internal area of 13,093 sq ft. The exterior of the striking building has recently undergone substantial refurbishment works.

The building, opposite Newport's cenotaph, is being marketed by Cardiff-based Hicks, Day, Jones and Westlake and is for sale with full vacant possession.

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