In just 50 days from today, the public will get its first chance to see the new and improved Cinema City in Norwich when it is finally unveiled after a multi-million-pound makeover.

It is the premiere that movie fans have been waiting for - and this sequel follows through on its promise to be bigger and better than before.

In just 50 days from today, the public will get its first chance to see the new and improved Cinema City in Norwich when it is finally unveiled after a multi-million-pound makeover.

The popular art-house cinema has been closed for more than three years while the £2.5m overhaul has taken place.

Cinema director David Litchfield, who will be leaving once the renovation is officially complete, said the first films to be screened at the cinema were still under wraps but that "something special" was planned.

With three screens now instead of one and capacity for 350 people rather than 200, Mr Litchfield described the revamp as a "miracle of design".

"A very important part of the aesthetic was to reuse as much of the old cinema as possible. Obviously it has changed but, hopefully, we have captured the feeling of the old cinema and so far everyone who has been to see the work has said so without prompting," he said.

"There will be an even greater diversity of the sort of films we will be able to show, which was part of the problem with the old cinema because there were so many different types of films we wanted to show but just did not have the capacity."

The cinema's board of trustees has asked Picturehouse to take on the day- to-day running of the business when Mr Litchfield leaves.

Together with a massive fundraising campaign, which included the chance for people to have a seat dedicated to them or a loved one in screen one, the cinema received a £180,000 boost to help enhance its history.

The cash from the heritage lottery fund has been used to ensure its medieval buildings are preserved by refurbishing two vaulted bays, which are the oldest part of Suckling Hall and will be open to the public for the first time in more than 50 years.

A glass canopy will also be erected over the ancient courtyard which will make it useable for much of the year with enhanced lighting in the building to emphasise architectural features.

The cinema is due to open to the public on October 19.