WHAT a sight it is to see the revamped front of one of the country’s oldest cinemas after a two-year renovation project.

The overhaul of the Electric Palace Cinema, in Harwich, has cost nearly £1 million - which is considerably more than was expected due to asbestos being discovered in the roof last year.

The project was only meant to take six months.

Despite the work taking more than two years - the project is scheduled to be completed this month.

A spectacular re-opening party was meant to be held this summer, but this has now been pushed back due to the ‘everlasting’ coronavirus pandemic.

It won’t be everlasting - but it certainly does feel like it.

The refurbishment of the roof and auditorium will enable the cinema to last another 50 years, however the future is not looking too promising at the moment due to Covid-19.

Until the nation is allowed to safely visit cinemas again, there will remain a huge cloud of uncertainty over the Electric Palace’s future.

But it has stood through two world wars, so we hope it can last through this pandemic.