Woolton's historic Picture House cinema has announced its re-opening after members of the public raised thousands of pounds to save it from closure.
In July last year, the owners of Woolton Picture House, the oldest cinema in Liverpool, made the heartbreaking decision to close after 93 years in business.
However a GoFundMe has since raised over £24,000, donated by local people to secure its future.
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In September of last year, a representative of the cinema described the gesture as "heartwarming" on social media and said they were "thrilled" to be able to announce plans to reopen, though did not reveal a date.
Kris Brown, Liberal Democrat councillor for Woolton along with other local councillors reached out last week to the cinema in an effort to encourage the owners to reveal a date.
Speaking to The ECHO Cllr Brown said: "The cinema has a moral responsibility to be very open about where this money has gone.
"The re-opening plans are a matter of public interest, people really love the cinema."
In response to enquiries from the ECHO, the owner of Woolton Picture House, Richard Carmichael, said: "We appreciate Woolton Picture House is a much loved Liverpool institution and are working to ensure the cinema can be reopened as soon as it is safe and viable to do so.
"The kindly received public donations have helped maintain the building and its continuing overheads whilst the cinema has been closed.
"The support of the community have helped ensure that Woolton Picture House overcomes the recent challenges of Covid and can serve South Liverpool for another 94 years."
Mr Carmichael said "specific challenges" had delayed the cinema's re-opening.
He said: "We are one of the UK’s oldest single screen and independent cinemas in a historic building and there is a volatile and limited schedule of high quality film releases that make a 2021 reopening difficult.
"The cinema currently plans to reopen in 2022 and we look forward to welcoming back our loyal customers as soon as we are able."
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