Snowcat Cinema will not fall victim to COVID, the film-buff who runs it tells Nub News.

"We're in a different boat to the big cinemas. Snowcat has just been in hibernation, rather than anything more sinister" says Ben Rive. "The fact that Bond and Wonder Woman have been pushed back isn't really a concern because we probably wouldn't have shown them anyway."

Before COVID, Snowcat Cinema would book the Penarth Pier Pavilion to screen art house, cult and classic movies.

Although cinemas in the UK began to reopen in August, Snowcat has not screened a film since the pandemic began.

"People have been saying to me, 'we really respect that you've kept it closed to keep everyone safe.' But actually, we haven't opened because we physically can't," says Ben.

"Pier Pavilion is a lovely cinema, but it only seats 68 people. About a month into lockdown, I went down there with a tape measure to look at two metre safe distances between people. I found that basically you could get four people, or four couples, in there.

"It was just totally unfeasible."

According to Ben, Snowcat is impervious to the economic hit endured by the likes of Cineworld because it was never a big moneymaker in the first place.

The Penarth Pier Pavilion cinema is currently leased by Penarth Arts and Crafts Ltd. It has been financially unviable for them to run regular screenings since 2017, meaning Snowcat and occasional private functions now book the room in exchange for a percentage of ticket sales.

"This means I have no overheads, unlike Cineworld or Multiplex. All that's really happened during lockdown is that I'm missing out on that tiny bit of profit I would make.

"I've got a full-time job anyway so it's not like I'm on the breadline. There's no likelihood we're not coming back. It's just a matter of when."

By day, Ben works for Cardiff Council. Nub News asks if he misses the creative outlet Snowcat provided.

"I really miss doing it. In the winter, when you go down there to watch a film and the moon is reflecting off the sea, it just doesn't get any better.

"There's a really nice communal atmosphere too. People would stay afterwards and chat about the film - you just don't get that anymore."