An empty cinema slumped at the bottom of a quiet High Street encapsulated exactly what this pandemic has done to businesses, and the hospitality industry in particular, during a 15-month ordeal.

The New Century Cinema in Sittingbourne, a site which has been on the edge of the town centre for nearly 85 years, was almost hidden in plain sight on the day it was meant to be opening up for the first time in seven months.

Just an hour before its first screening since last October, it would be hard to tell whether or not it was one of the many victims of Covid-19, with locked doors and no queue of eager customers waiting to get inside.

Then, with a flicker its outside lights show a glimmer of life in the historic building, and a friendly face arrives at the door.

Manager Clare Ralph is ecstatic to frequent the dimly-lit cinema as we meander through Covid-secure measures to get to the main floor, next to its two screens.

As she shuffles round the popcorn machine and stands, hand-a-piece, on the front desk and till, she strikes a calm figure for someone who has taken a £25,000 hit during the pandemic.

The 47-year-old explains she's relied on the kindness of her friends and family to survive a turbulent few months.

'I've never thought about quitting...'

As she counts down the minutes for her "many reservations" to walk through the door and meet volunteer staff Kelly Byrne and Taff Ivory, she reviews a horrible year.

"I've never thought about quitting," the Chestnut Street resident said.

"I love my job too much. It's what I know. It's a massive part of my life, this place has a hold over me. I don't know what it is, but it definitely has.

"I haven't coped that well with it all as I've been missing coming back to work and I'm just looking forward to getting people back in and the doors open.

"It's been quite hard to survive but my friends have helped me out a lot. I have two now who are working for free until I get myself sorted.

"In terms of plans to move forward we're just hoping we get people through the door, there's no plans other than that right now."

She was closed so long even the projectors needed replacing.

Flanked by her co-workers and friends, Clare detailed how the industry had been taking a hit even before the pandemic. As footfall pre-Covid began to fall, she is now hoping a grand reopening might be the lifeline she desperately needs.

The sectioned-off floor telling people which side of the stairs to walk on, or where to sit when inside one of the cinema's two screens, are signs of a "new normal" the industry is facing.

Clare's 20 years of experience in the industry has seen her use every trick in the book to stay afloat, and even make the heart-wrenching decision to fire all of her full-time staff.

'To be told we'd be closing was heart-wrenching...'

But that's in the past for Clare and her two-man team as they brace themselves for customers they hope are "looking for an escape and want to get out".

Peter Rabbit 2 is the first screening after months out of the game and it's nearly sold out, according to Clare, but it's the later shows which are still quiet.

She said: "We're hoping the good slate of films such as Peter Rabbit 2, Black Widow etc will bring people in and people will be sick of staying indoors that they'll want to come here.

"We want it to provide a little bit of normality for everyone."

She explained how she was able to open for a month towards the end of last year, but was then told she had to close.

"To be told we'd be closing was heart-wrenching and to know people wouldn't be coming through was terrible, especially when we were spending money on staying open but nobody was coming in.

"But this time round as soon as we went live on the website people were making bookings and reservations for the week.

"We've all definitely learnt from this experience, especially me. I've learnt the value of my friends and staff as they're the ones who have got me through this.

"They don't expect nothing from me, they just do it to help me out as they've seen how hard it's been for me."

Clare's best friend Kelly Byrne is perhaps a perfect representation of the positive camaraderie which has got so many people through these wavering times.

'It was a no brainer to come in and help, she's my best friend...'

Unhesitatingly stepping into the role of assistant manager to help her pal, the selfless 43-year-old showed the true meaning of friendship.

She said: "I've been volunteering for about a year now and came in at the beginning of everything to help out.

"It was a no brainer to come in and help, she's my best friend so I'll always help when she needs it.

"It's been a tough time on all of us, but it's good to get the doors back open for Clare and get everything up and running and help her do what she loves."

The cinema was opened in 1937 by the Odeon chain and was later taken over and re-named New Century Cinema in 2000. It can hold just over 200 people combined in both its screens at once.

It is usually bustling on weekends with around 2,000 people visiting, but is a bit quieter on week days.

As I leave the cinema, about 15 minutes from the famous Peter Rabbit's comeback, there's still no signs of customers on a solemn street which has been battered by on-and-off showers throughout the day – similar to the hospitality industry's guidance on reopening.

The only sign of life is two young boys who walk past to take a look at the advertising billboard, and who aren't impressed with the thought of an hour-and-a-half of a cartoon rabbit's misadventures.

But while her premiere night post-lockdown might not be a red carpet affair, complete with fanfare or a Pearl and Dean score, Clare is optimistic for the future.

However, she, and Kent's other cinema bosses, will no doubt be hoping that, from now on, the only global crises she comes across are the ones featured in the blockbusters gracing her screens.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne