OKEHAMPTON's long-awaited cinema will finally open this weekend, just in time for Christmas, after contractors pulled out all the stops to complete conversion of the town's market hall. The New Carlton will open its doors to the public on Saturday December 23 with a special programme of entertainment for Christmas, before a regular programme is established after the holidays. Geoff Greaves, director of Merlin Cinemas which has carried out the £200,000 conversion of Okehampton's former market hall, said he was delighted with the way the cinema was looking. Mr Greaves said: 'It has all gone very smoothly and we are very, very pleased with it. 'It's looking pretty impressive — I think people are going to be quite surprised, it certainly doesn't look anything like a market hall any more. 'If people think they are going to see a projector, stage and stacking chairs, it isn't anything like that at all!' There are two screens at the New Carlton — a comfortable, 160-seater traditional cinema and a smaller, luxury, licensed cinema which seats 60 on armchairs and sofas. Mr Greaves said: 'There's loads of room, you can enjoy a glass of wine or beer with the movie, and there will be food available. We've put these luxury screens in two other towns we've worked in and they are proving really popular, so we thought we'd put one in at Okehampton. 'We are very optimistic — we think Okehampton deserves a local cinema and we are really looking forward to opening, we've pushed hard to get it all done before Christmas.' The New Carlton will be open on Saturday and on Christmas Eve, it will close on Christmas Day and re-open on Boxing Day. The first films on offer will be Deck the Halls which stars Danny de Vito and Mathew Broderick, The Nativity Story and the new James Bond blockbuster, Casino Royale. Mr Greaves said: 'Deck the Halls is a hilarious comedy about two families who have a battle to see who can do the best Christmas lights. Nativity Story is a straight, traditional film. The seats for this weekend only will be £2.99, to give adults and children in the Okehampton area a chance to come in and see their new cinema at reduced rates. 'On Boxing Day we will start our normal schedule of programmes with the latest release which is going out all over the UK, Night at the Museum with Ben Stiller, which will be a massively popular film for families this Christmas.' Mr Greaves said The New Carlton will feature a mixture of films — current releases and other products. Staff are hoping to hold matinees once a week for 'more mature audiences', where the ticket price includes a cup of tea. Normal prices will be £6/£4 children or £7.50/£5.50 in the licensed screen. But there will be a range of reduced tickets, including 'supersavers' and a special loyalty card for an annual £5 fee, which sees ticket prices reduced to £2.99 or £3.99 in the licensed cinema. 'We hope the loyalty card will encourage local people to come along regularly to the cinema and make some great savings,' said Mr Greaves. The cinema is due to be officially opened by the mayor of Okehampton, Cllr Frances Luxton, at a private viewing tomorrow (Friday). The former market building is owned by the town council, which last year decided after a town survey that the hall, which was losing money, would be more financially successful if it was run as a cinema.