The Civic Theatre in Waipukurau will re-open its doors for business next week in time for the school holidays.
The council-owned facility, which had been rebranded as The Picture House under former operator Full House Entertainment, closed at the end of February this year after 18 months, sparking outrage in the community and much speculation as to whether it would open again.
This week Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Peter Butler welcomed the new leaseholder, Sereena Parkinson, who said she was excited and looking forward to a new adventure.
"We are really pleased to be able to be part of getting this wonderful movie theatre open again. We see a real desire by locals to attend their own movie theatre," she said.
The Civic Theatre's main auditorium seats more than 275, making it Hawke's Bay's largest cinema auditorium, with an art-house cinema area with a capacity of 27 seats.