The David Lean Cinema has reopened at Croydon Clocktower for the first time since the pandemic.

The cinema, named after famed director David Lean who directed classics like The Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago, and Lawrence of Arabia, reopened on Katherine Street with a screening of the Oscar-winning picture Nomadland.

Philip Howard, Chairman of the David Lean Cinema, said: “It’s been a delight to see people back in the cinema and enjoying themselves.

“My colleagues and I put a lot of work into keeping the cinema running over the pandemic, we’re really happy that the David Lean cinema is showing films again.”

The cinema is hosting a mix of full and limited capacity screenings to support those who may be uncomfortable with crowds.

Operating both a digital and a film projector, the cinema is mostly run with the support of volunteers and is popular for screening independent and foreign films, as well as dementia-friendly events.