The red carpet was rolled out in Walthamstow last night as celebrity guests, business owners and a few hundred lucky residents were treated to try out the facilities at the grand opening of the nine-screen, 1200 seat Empire Cinema.

Singers A*M*E and Delilah, Britain’s Got Talent stars The Loveable Rogues, BBC Radio 1 DJ Danny Howard and Rudimental’s DJ Locksmith were some of the most recognisable names on the guest list.

Empire is the first cinema to open in the borough since the EMD Cinema closed in 2002.

A total of 460 VIP guests attended a private screening of the highly anticipated film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1.

The modern cinema, with bright pink interior and diamante signs, boasts an Impact screen with luxury seating and surround sound audio, as well as a VIP area, complete with a bar, which can be rented for private viewings.

Open to the public from today, the cinema will screen 16 releases in its premiere week, including some of the world’s biggest blockbusters.

The Scene at Cleveland Place will feature more than 120 homes and five new restaurants; all part of a multi-million pound investment in a number of significant regeneration projects for Walthamstow Town Centre.

Leader of Waltham Forest Council, Chris Robbins said: “This has been a personal priority for me and is the culmination of many years work.

“Not only will local residents have a state-of-the-art cinema on their doorstep, but the new restaurants will help create a real destination for people all over Waltham Forest to enjoy a night out.”