Part of a former cinema is to get a facelift, evoking memories of its art deco past.

Brighton architect Miles Broe plans to restore the entrance of the old Coronation cinema in North Street, Brighton.

Mr Broe, who owns Miles Broe Architects, wants to recreate the original picture house entrance and make it the focal point of his business.

The Coronation was one of Brighton's first cinemas when it opened in 1911.

In its heyday it seated 350 people and was one of more than 40 cinemas in the town.

Films were shared on a rotation basis with other picture houses, which included the Craggs Lane Picture House in Duke Street, now the Havana Restaurant. Reels of film were transported by bicycle.

The Coronation went through several name changes in its lifetime, including being called the Troxy Picture House.

It showed its last film in 1939 and ownership of the building passed to Redhill Motors, which made its name selling Triumph motorbikes.

Redhill used the building for motorcycle sales and servicing and stored parts in the auditorium.

When the firm left, the site lay derelict for three years before Miles Broe produced a design to demolish the auditorium and replace it and the surrounding area with flats.

Since then, 13 one-bedroom flats have been built for the Sanctuary Housing Association.

Miles Broe has bought the front of the site, which stands in front of the flats on North Road and includes the former entrance of the cinema.

The firm is moving from Kemp Town to the building, which will be called Coronation Studios.

Building work is expected to start within the next six months and should be finished by next summer.

Mr Broe plans to restore what is left of the frontage in its original art deco style.

He said: "Art deco was very much the style of the cinema period.

"We want the design to reflect the building's original use but it should also be appropriate for a modern-day architects office."

The architect also has plans to convert premises next to the Coronation site.

One building, the former Redhill showrooms, will be turned into a restaurant or bar, due to open next summer.

Round the corner on Cheltenham Place, the former Avery Scales offices are to be converted into artists' studios.