A CINEMA that became Ripon's first in more than three decades has received an accolade after rejuvenating the city's night-time economy.

The Curzon Cinema, which is set to mark its first anniversary in North Street this month, has been given the Helen Whitehead Salver for best project in Ripon Civic Society’s annual awards.

At a ceremony at the city's Spa Hotel, the conservation body praised the conversion of the former WM Abbott's furniture store - into a two-screen cinema and flats - which had been described by councillors as an eyesore.

David Winpenny, the society's chairman, said while the work on the building's exterior had respected the historic street, the interiors had a smart feel to them.

He said: "Ripon people have certainly taken the cinema to their hearts.

"It was a building that had become rather down at heel, so the cinema has helped reinvigorate that part of Ripon.

"The North Street area is certainly more lively now and there are more people coming out on an evening across the city."

A spokesman for the cinema, which has about 1,200 members, said: "It's great to know that we have a made a difference in Ripon."

The Curzon was also joint winner of the best restoration award, along with the transformation of the former Methodist church, in Grewelthorpe, into a village hall.

Littlethorpe Manor Gardens, which has been developed over the last 14 years, scooped the society’s environment award, while the best shop front, which was given to Boroughbridge Hardware, in Horsefair, Boroughbridge, for its sensitive adaptation of a former public house.

St John’s Church, in Sharow, won a craftsmanship award for joinery work and the Ripon Walled Garden Project landed the outstanding contribution to the area prize for its work with people with learning difficulties and people on probation.

Other projects recognised included the new music building at Ripon Grammar School, the transformation of the ground floor of Ripon Town Hall for the Tourist Information Office and council drop-in centre and the carving of the Alice in Wonderland figures in Ripon’s Spa Gardens.

Mr Winpenny said the society was awaiting an imaginative scheme to which it could give a new building award.

He added: "We should like to see the same care that has been given to some of the historic, but sometimes-tired buildings in Ripon when new buildings are planned and executed."