THE group behind plans to reopen the Broadway cinema in Prestwick are to hold an open day this weekend - to coincide with the festival heralding the start of the town's Christmas countdown.

The Friends of the Broadway will open the doors of the Main Street building on November 25 and 26 to coincide with the all-new PRESTmas Christmas lights festival on the same date.

The upper level of the foyer will be available for all to visit - while some special attractions will be on show for the very first time.

The Friends have also announced plans for a special Christmas film festival in December.

A trio of 35mm film projectors will be on display - giving a rare opportunity for movie buffs to get up close and personal with the machines that share the magic of analogue film.

The display will also feature a Rank RK60 projector and the Friends' two Cinemeccanica Victoria 5s, one of which is fully operational.

A full programme for the festival, also featuring adverts and trailers, will be published in the coming days.

In October, the Advertiser revealed the Friends' plans to bring the Broadway back to life with a bang - and their hopes to make it more than just a cinema.

They want to turn the building into a community hub for Prestwick - and in the long run have dreams of extending the building to provide two more cinema screens.

There are also plans to turn part of the building into a Museum of Scottish Cinema, which the Friends hope could attract visitors from around the world.

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A Friends spokesperson said: "We will be bringing a packed programme of festive films to Prestwick, with the full event announcement coming later this week, and tickets launching in time for PRESTmas.

"Therefore, for the first time in 47 years you will be able to purchase cinema tickets directly from the Broadway's original ticket booth! Your favourite Christmas films are on their way.

"To coincide with Prestwick's annual Christmas lights switch-on, we will also be hosting a lights switch-on of our own.

"Our doors will be open from 9am to 5pm across both days, and upon closing on Sunday, we will shortly afterwards - at 5.15pm - light up the Broadway's former café and the future Museum of Scottish Cinemas on the first floor,.

"The Broadway's interior will burst to life in a symphony of colour once more.

"The weekend will also provide opportunities to meet the team, see our projection journey behind-the-scenes, and learn about our plans for 2024.

"Let's send 2023 out in style this Christmas, as we look ahead to the biggest year in the history of Friends of the Broadway Prestwick so far."

For more information visit here https://www.friendsofthebroadwayprestwick.com/post/prestmas-foyer-open-weekend-announcement