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It has been three years since the projectors were switched off at Cinema City's historic St Andrew's Street home - but they're now running again.

After a makeover costing around Β£4.5m, the art-house cinema powered up on Friday, 19 October, 2007 when its three new screens were unveiled, with the main theatre boasting a digital projection system.

Geoffrey Rush at the official opening

Gala opening

The cinema's official opening on Thursday, 25 October boasted a special gala screening of Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

The film's director and Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush added a splash of star quality to the event and answered questions for a special satellite session which was beamed live to 15 cinemas nationwide.

The preview at Cinema City was fitting since Queen Elizabeth visited Norwich with Sir Francis Walsingham, who is played by Rush, to recognise Robert Suckling for his loyalty.

His home, Suckling Hall, makes up part of the cinema with the house's great hall now the bar.

The Great Hall dates back to the 1500s

One of the key aims of the refurbishment has been to let contemporary styling exist happily with the building's stunning and, in some parts, ancient structure.

During the ambitious revamp, the historic building - bits of which date back to the 14th century - was turned into a construction site.

One screen became three, vaulted rooms have been turned into a restaurant, and thick layers of gloss paint were stripped back in an old office to reveal some beautiful 17th century pine panelling.

Unexpected finds

This period feature wasn't the only unexpected find as builders went about their work.

Workers uncovered a stone tablet mounted under plasterboard in the old box office, which has a new home hanging on the wall above the stairs to the main auditorium.

In this age of recycling, some of the venue's fabric has also been re-used: you'll now spot the cinema's old marble skirting board laying above the toilet sinks.

One change which will probably be greeted with the warmest welcome by former Cinema City visitors is the plush plum-coloured seats, with 360 of them spread across the three theatres.

Director David Litchfield is leaving

New operator

Cinema City director David Litchfield co-ordinated the far-reaching project before handing over the running of the venue to Picturehouse Cinemas, which has helped programme the venue for five years.

ΜύHe's delighted by what has been achieved.

"I am still amazed when I walk around it today from what this was two years ago," he said.

"Two years ago this was a hole in the ground and you couldn't imagine how you could possibly fit all these three screens in, let alone get them looking so elegant.

"I think this is going to be not just one of the most beautiful buildings in Norwich - I think this could be one of the most beautiful cinemas anywhere in the country," he added.

Wider programme

During the closure of the St Andrew's Street auditorium, Cinema City moved its screenings to the nearby Norwich Playhouse.

Now it's returned to its rightful home, Picturehouse managing director Lyn Goleby said they were looking forward to expanding its programme to attract new audiences.

"We've worked on the programming with David for five years now, so what three screens gives us is just an opportunity to do more and more, which is what we hope will give the breadth that this place is known for," she said.

As a nationwide operator - it also runs Cambridge's Arts Picturehouse - Lyn says the organisation is looking forward to implementing ideas in Norwich that have worked well elsewhere in the country.

Workers prepare to install the screen

"We hope that some of the strands that we do will introduce people to the cinema and then they will start to experiment," she said.