A council will continue to run a town centre cinema for a further 18 months after it stepped up last year.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) took over Picturehouse at Elwick Place in April after the Cineworld-owned chain surrendered its lease in February, and the arrangement is now set to continue for another year-and-a-half.

Bosses say this extension of support will safeguard the theatre’s immediate future until a long-term solution can be found.

The newly-named six-screen Ashford Cinema is run in partnership with company The Big Picture, which manages the site's day-to-day operations.

Nearly a year after council took the cinema on, council leader Noel Ovenden says: “When Picturehouse made their announcement, we felt it was important to act.

“We stepped in for the benefit of the local community to do all we can to keep our town centre entertainment offer at Elwick Place open for business.

“I’m pleased to say this has worked well, with a busier cinema, great customer feedback and local community groups using the venue for packed-out events.

“The Ashford Cinema now has a more positive story to tell, therefore we have decided to extend this arrangement for a further 18 months.”

Last year, KentOnline took an in-depth look at the struggles facing Elwick Place. The leisure complex opened six years ago at a cost £75 million, but only has four businesses remaining after several closures and some units never being filled.

After the cinema takeover, council bosses claimed the revamped venue could become the “epicentre of town”.

And Ben Hammond, general manager at Ashford Cinema, says that over the last 11 months, it has become a “vibrant hub for the community, film lovers and families.”

He adds: “We have undergone a significant transformation, enhancing our offerings with a diverse range of films, exceptional food and drink while maintaining affordable ticket prices.

“The team and I are incredibly proud to be at the heart of the town centre. With this continued support from ABC, we remain committed to tailoring our offers to keep our cinema accessible to all.”

In order to determine a long-term solution for the site, council bosses say a full year of trading data is needed to demonstrate its viability and begin marketing for a prospective new operator.

They add that by extending their current support, it’s believed the immediate future will be safeguarded until a sustainable solution can be found.