Cinema-goers in Kent can now lay back and put their feet up as they watch the latest blockbusters, with the opening of a luxurious new cinema.

Showcase Cinema de Lux officially opened to audiences at Bluewater shopping centre last night, bringing a next level cinema experience to the county.

With floor to ceiling screens and 80 state-of-the-art speakers in each auditorium, viewers can settle back in the height of opulence with full-length reclining, padded black seats, each with more leg room and space around them.

The four new screens join the existing 13 at the cinema and use the space vacated by the previous Glow location space was, with the newly-opened Gravity trampolining centre on the ground floor below.

Visitors enter the plush cinema to the left past the entrance to the cinema complex.

Several hundred guests were given a glimpse of the opulent surroundings at an official launch last night and were able to experience the extravagance of fully reclining while at the cinema – and trying not to nod off in the height of comfort.

Mark Barlow, general manager of Showcase Cinemas UK told several hundred invited guests how when the company bought the cinema at Bluewater 20 years ago, it was its first shopping centre venue. Its IMAX screen then followed in 2014.

He said: “It’s been a real journey. We knew with the IMAX screen that we had to further enhance the experience at Bluewater with more space. Now we have four extra screens.”

Of the comfortable, reclining seats, he added: “If you fall asleep – fine. If you start to snore you’ll be thrown out!”

Duncan Short, senior vice president, US & International Operations, Showcase Cinemas added: “We are committed to leading innovation within the industry, and the expansion and upgrade of our flagship Bluewater Cinema de Lux further enhances its standing as one of the finest cinemas in the UK.”

Tickets are just £1.50 extra.

To book, and see what’s on visit the cinema's website here.