Toy Story 3 is due to be the first film shown at 5pm on Friday at the new Regal Cinema, the former Regal Bingo Hall revamped by developers Anthony Harris and his father Trevor, after Chesterfield Borough Council approved their bid for a premises licence.

Trevor Harris, who runs independent cinemas nationwide, said: "Subject to the planning officer's final approval today (Thursday) we should open on Friday - we will work like idiots to get it done.

"People have said how good an idea it is because the building has stood empty for three years and there is only one cinema in the area, Chesterfield Cineworld.

"We're going to show a mixture of all types of films and the prices will be right - you won't get ripped off."

Under-12s tickets cost £4.50 and over-12s are £5.50 at the Church Street building, which opened as a cinema in 1938 but was last used for that purpose around 1970. It has been given a new lease of life with a 270-seat screen, disabled toilet, new sweet counter and seats.

Although Trevor said the developers are "frightened to add up" the cost of the project, which they worked on with Staveley Town Council, they are already looking to infinity and beyond.

He added: "There's been a big surge in cinema in recent years - I will see what the reaction is and then decide whether to double the capacity or triple it."