The Electric Cinema, one of London's most celebrated theatres, is to reopen on February 21 after a seven-year hiatus with a charity gala screening of Stephen Frears' Liam.

The cinema's initial programme also includes screenings of Marc Singer's acclaimed documentary Dark Days, a re-release of The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night, and a screening of Japanese shocker Audition with director Takashi Miike present.

The Grade 2-listed cinema was built in 1910 as a venue for silent films. It functioned as a repertory cinema during the 1960s and 1970s, and began winding down full time operations in the early 1990s. With around 200 seats, the newly renovated interior still retains some of the cinema's original features.

'We're extremely pleased that it's reopening,' said Richard Gray of the Cinema Theatre Association. 'The interior is one of the best surviving cinema auditoria in Britain.'

The Electric Cinema was bought in 1999 by British entrepreneur Peter Simon, and is now managed by City Screen, which controls various London cinemas.

The cinema will be concentrating on first-run independent films, double bills, late night screenings at weekends and regular short films.

A restaurant is planned for the site, and music events will also take place. 'It's going to be a multi-purpose venue at which screenings will be integral,' said a City Screen spokesperson.