A FORMER 1920s cinema will reopen its doors during July offering art and cycling lovers a glimpse inside the Grade II listed building.

This year's Northwich Art Trail features the Plaza cinema, in Witton Street, as one of its 59 participating buildings, which will host a display of postcards inspired by the Pedal Power Festival.

The Plaza, which was built in 1928, was being used as a bingo hall when it closed in 2011 but owners, the Godfrey family, have agreed to a proposal by Visual Arts Cheshire (VAC) and DAN Community to host an art exhibition in the foyer and bar area.

This will open for three mornings a week in July to coincide with VAC's Northwich Art Trail.

Among the exhibits will be the VAC ‘Pedal Power Postcards Project’, contemporary sculpture and VAC members’ paintings and photographs.

The exhibition will be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings from 10.30am to 12.30am for four weeks, starting on Thursday, July 2.

Alan Carr, VAC chairman, said: "For health and safety reasons, visitors will be restricted to the exhibition areas, but they will have a superb view of the auditorium and stage from the bar area which many people will never have seen and others will remember from long gone cinema visits or more recent bingo evenings.

"The owners are hoping that the listed building can become a community asset once again.

"Perhaps the interest generated by the VAC and DAN initiative will produce new, viable ideas to safeguard the future of the Northwich Plaza."

The two notice boards outside the front entrance will also contain art trail exhibits.

The VAC Art Trail, now in its fourth year, runs from July 4 to 31.

The trail extends from Jack Gee Cycles, in Witton Street, through the town centre to CRS Finance, in Dane Street.

The 40 participating artists have provided more than 130 pieces of art for visitors to discover.

The art will be mostly in the windows but some will be in the interiors.

All of the work is for sale.

Art Trail leaflets are available from Northwich Library, the Art Shop and all participating retailers.

There are prizes for the ‘Best Picture’ and two runners up, as voted for by a member of the Cheshire West Arts and Museums team.