Dover's first ever multiplex cinema opens this week.

The six-screen Cineworld will open on Friday and will be the first business welcoming customers to the £53 million St James's retail and leisure development.

The cinema was meant to open on February 2 but hitches in getting electricity connections led to the the delay.

But now the projectors are ready to roll and the cinema's general manager Luke Admans said: "We are delighted to confirm that Cineworld Dover will open to the public on Friday, March 9.”

“Cineworld will bring a state-of-the-art film viewing experience to the town and we look forward to opening our doors and welcoming local film fans for the first time .”

“We aim to be the best place to watch a movie and I don’t think anyone will be disappointed. We have something for everyone."

The first movies being shown include the thriller Ready Player One, the action blockbuster Tomb Raider and family-orientated fantasy Peter Rabbit.

Dover so far has only one small cinema, the 77-seater Silver Screen off Market Square, which opened in 1991.

The town had no cinema at all by the late 1980s after so many had closed nationwide because of crushing competition from television.

Cineworld in Dover has a total 909 sets and the biggest screen room has 237.