Can Harry Potter help pub's fortunes?

A pair of publicans are hoping Harry Potter can weave his magic to help their bid to run a cinema from their pub.

Angela Morgan-Knight, licensee of the White Hart Inn in Spilsby, Lincolnshire and business partner Shirley Smith have been granted a licence to show films on cinematic release.

The pub is believed to be the first granted a licence to show movies coming to the end of their general release - before they are released on DVD.

They had hoped that Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows would be the first screening last weekend.

Angela said: "We have a really big function room with a 9ft screen and projector and we can have 100 people in there.

"We will be showing films on Tuesday nights and have a special matinee on Sundays where we will offer special meal deals and family tickets."

Money for the projection equipment came via a community grant and will be used alongside other community training projects.

Angela opted to show films because the nearest cinema to the pub is a 35 minute drive away in Skegness.

The licensee, a tenant at the Greene King pub since June, added: "I work nearly all the time so it's a major effort to take my 15-year-old daughter to the cinema. My mother often does it but I would like to enjoy the films as well.

"We like to think of ourselves as a community pub serving the local people and the reaction to us showing films has been very positive."

Drinkers at the Greene King pub can now look forward to Jim Carrey's Scrooge, which will have a special screening on Boxing Day.