CINEMA returned to Gravesend last Monday (January 26) with the launch of monthly blockbuster screenings.

Gravesham Council’s first Monthly Movie Monday was held at Woodville Halls, with 102 people turning out to see High School Musical 3 and 125 enjoying the latest James Bond film, Quantum of Solace.

It was the first of four film nights which will be held at the theatre, and if successful a permanent schedule of screenings will be introduced.

For 15-year-old schoolboy Kieron Butler, watching a film on the big screen in Gravesend again was “a dream come true”.

In 2006 the student at Northfleet Technology College in Colyer Road collected 5,000 signatures on his petition asking the council to bring cinema back to Gravesend.

The town had been without one since the EMD in King Street closed in 2003 and the empty premises burnt down in 2006.

Speaking before the screening of Quantum of Solace, Kieron said: “I am very pleased, it shows people the council is listening to what they want.

“I hope everybody who signed my petition will come to the Woodville Halls screenings now to show the council there is a demand for cinema, and the council will then make them permanent.”

The cinema programme is part of the council’s ongoing work to revamp the theatre, which is attached to the Civic Centre in Windmill Street.

New seats were installed in September and a wider range of events introduced, with upcoming shows including stand-up comedy and professional wrestling.

Although screenings will face competition from multiplex Showcase Cinemas at Bluewater, the council is optimistic they can be a success.

Councillor Bryan Sweetland, cabinet member for business, said: “It is very hard to make a commercial success of a small cinema, but we are hoping that using the borough’s largest auditorium will bring the audiences in and justify investing in permanent equipment and more frequent screenings.”

Monthly Movie Mondays continue at Woodville Halls with Australia on February 23 and Slumdog Millionaire on March 23, while a film has yet to be announced for the April 27 show.

Tickets cost £6 for adults and £4 for under-14s. For details go to gravesham.gov.uk