This week's Hyde Park Pick: Ernest & Celestine

Located on Cardigan Road, The Bear Pit originally opened as a visitor attraction as part of the Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens in 1840 until 1858. In an attempt to boost the number of people attending, the original rather large brown bear was also accompanied by smaller animals, including a raccoon, alligator, guinea pigs an owl, a peacock and two parrots. As custodians of this important relic of Victorian life since the 1960s, the Leeds Civic Trust have had a long standing ambition to restore the last remaining important relic of Victorian life.

Join us on Saturday at 10.30am for a bear extravaganza scavenger hunt to find some beautifully illustrated bears hiding in the nooks and crannies of the cinema. Additionally, before the screening we will have a short introduction from Martin Hamilton, the director of the Leeds Civic Trust, providing insight into the building and grounds renovation, what opportunities there will be for the community in the future to use and appreciate the space and the important question of what will be in the pit?

This is a great excuse to show an absolute gorgeous gem of a film which is suitable for all audiences! Ernest and Celestine, based on the popular French picture books by author Gabrille Vincent, is a beautifully hand-drawn feature with a mesmerising watercolour palette. Younger audiences will delight in the story of a tiny and adorable mouse who befriends a really, really hungry bear. However, this story of unlikely friendship will also resonate with older audiences through its meaningful themes.