HOLLYWOOD came to Lewes last night for the opening of a new charity-funded cinema.

Martin Freeman, star of Sherlock, The Hobbit, The Office and Marvel’s forthcoming Black Panther movie, signed autographs for ecstatic fans at the new Depot cinema in Pinwell Road.

Speaking exclusively to The Argus at the event, he said he was “very impressed” with the Depot’s art gallery-style design and luxurious 100-seat screens.

He said: “I think it’s important to support cinema. Independent cinema is the lifeblood of the genre.

“And it’s important to me because I do a lot of independent movies as well as some big ones.

“I’m about to go to New York this summer and do an independent movie and I do a lot of those kind of things, thank God, so if I can support cultural and artistic ventures then I will.”

Freeman grew up in Aldershot but has long has links to Sussex with at least one sibling living in Lewes or in Brighton, a city he said he loves.

His sister-in-law Stevie Freeman, who owns Union Music in Lewes with her husband, Martin’s brother Jamie, has been working with the cinema’s artistic director Carmen Slijpen to provide live music acts.

Jamie said: “I heard about this through my wife and we asked if they’d like us to ask Martin if he’d be free to do the opening.”

Martin said that after receiving the invitation he made his diary work to accommodate it, joking: “I blew out Graham Norton for this.”

The cinema is the brainchild of Carmen and investor Robert Senior, who is responsible for a significant share of the £8 million it has cost to renovate a disused Harvey’s Brewery depot into a light and airy three-screen cinema which will screen blockbusters as well as independent films.

The pair promise “reasonable” ticket prices of £4 for under 25s and £6 per viewing in the daytime midweek.

The open-plan space has a small gallery and two bars.

Robert said: “What’s in it for us is this amazing set-up we’ve created – it’s a playground. I’m excited to watch The Machines this weekend, it’s a new documentary about textile manufacture in Gujarat shot with Dolby Atmos audio.

“But then we’re also screening the Witchfinder General starring Vincent Price, so there’s something for everybody,”

The new venue, which opens formally on Saturday, keeps most elements of the former warehouse, encasing the building in glass.