Film fans in Gorleston will have to wait just a little longer before settling into their seats and tucking into their popcorn.

Eastern Daily Press: The Palace Cinema which is due to re-open next month. Photo: Liz CoatesThe Palace Cinema which is due to re-open next month. Photo: Liz Coates (Image: Archant)

Refurbishment at the former Palace Cinema in the high street is continuing, but has been hit by minor setbacks as the owners work out the best way to revive the building.

Patrick Duffy, of Palatial Leisure, announced the move back into the movies earlier this year and said he had been stunned by the enthusiastic feedback.

Plans for new signage announcing the cinema have been submitted to Great Yarmouth Borough Council this week.

Although Mr Duffy had hoped to stage a blockbuster opening at the end of July, he was now looking to relaunch in September.

Heating and ventilation was the main sticking point.

Otherwise conversion of the 1939 landmark was going well.

'The job was bigger than we anticipated,' Mr Duffy said, adding that a July opening had been 'ambitious.'

'But it is lovely,' he said. 'It is an old building but it is completely new inside. It is almost like having a shell and putting all this in the middle.

'It is quite quaint and cosy and just the right size.

'There are four screens but it does not seem like anything is terribly large, while being big enough.

'When you take a building like this you have to be very careful that you do something that is going to last. We have not taken any short cuts and when there is a problem we have looked at it closely.'

As well as the four screens there will two bars, one upstairs and one downstairs.

It will retain a small bingo element and people will be encouraged to book their cinema tickets online.

Mr Duffy added that he was taken aback by the level of support and encouragement he had received adding that the cinema would be 'great for Gorleston.'

The Art-Deco style venue was built as a cinema and later converted to a bingo hall.

Under the transformation it will have capacity for 540 cinema goers who are promised the comfiest seats and the most up-to-date technology.

Mr Duffy also operates Palace Bingo and Casino in Great Yarmouth and is also behind a successful cinema in Felixstowe,

To sign up for updates visit the cinema's website here.