Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, was on hand to cut the ribbon – or film reel – to open Farnham's new REEL Cinema last Friday.

The MP for South West Surrey joined the mayor of Farnham, deputy mayor of Waverley, REEL’s founder KC Suri and his son, and present-day REEL director, Sunil, as the cinema opened to the public.

Mr Hunt also spoke to cinema staff – many of whom have been recruited from the nearby University for the Creative Arts.

He said: “The thorniest issue in Farnham for years has been the Gostrey and East Street development. But now it is nearly complete it is clear it is going to be fabulous.”

The cinema’s “super comfortable seats” are worth the ticket price alone, added the Chancellor.