The Grinch may not have approved but Tyneside Cinema is encouraging a spirit of goodwill in Newcastle by bringing festive cheer to the height of summer.
The city centre cinema is launching its winter programme extra early and the unveiling of its Christmas season of films reveals a mix of much-loved classics and guaranteed child-pleasers.
And the sight of the Grinch and Santa Claus out and about at the cinema to promote the programme certainly didn't escape the notice of visitors who also had the option of sampling some mince pies and green-colour milkshakes.
The Grinch - the 2018 3D computer-animated adaptation of the Dr Seuss story which also inspired the famous 2000 film starring Jim Carrey - is to be among the treats of the Christmas programme while a returning highlight will be the cinema's traditional screening of It’s A Wonderful Life which also will include a sing-song screening.
And it all will be served up with carol singing, mince pies and mulled wine too.
Other favourites on the bill include snow-sprinkled romantic comedy The Holiday, with Jude Law and Cameron Diaz, which will come accompanied by a "survival pack" of a bottle of prosecco and luxury chocolate, plus The Polar Express where ticket-buyers can sign up to have "golden tickets" sent out to children by post as a treat.
A "conductor" will be on hand on the day of the screening to welcome guests and check the tickets - which also will include hot chocolate; a gingerbread man and a visit from Santa who will bring each child a gift.
The cinema will be going all-out in festive spirit from December 1 with a programme designed to suit all ages and tastes, and other popular picks are double-bills of Die Hard with Die Hard 2 and of Home Alone and its sequel.
Other upcoming treats are Scrooged; The Muppet Christmas Carol; classics The Bishop’s Wife and White Christmas and a Bolshoi Ballet performance of The Nutcracker.
It’s a Wonderful Life will run at the cinema throughout December and besides a festive "sing-song screening" there will be relaxed showings of it with specially-adapted lights and sound as well as screenings suitable for babies and for those with dementia.
Rachel Pronger, who creates the cinema's annual Christmas programme, said: "Each year we want to create a place warm with nostalgia but also where new festive memories are made.
"That’s why it’s been such a treat to include 'new classics' like The Holiday alongside the much-loved films like It’s A Wonderful Life and White Christmas."
She said its Christmas season sells-out early each year so its early launch will give audiences a bit more time to book.
Tickets for the films are on sale now. See here .
