The reopening of a historic cinema following a £2.2 million restoration has been postponed indefinitely.

The shock announcement was made by trustees of the Dome in Worthing after the official unveiling of the listed seafront venue was put off three times.

The Dome closed in July 2005 for the revamp after the Heritage Lottery Fund pledged £1.7 million and English Heritage £200,000 to the restoration.

The venue, which remains on English Heritage's At Risk register, was due to reopen a year later but the date was first put back to August 2006 and then November.

Now the Worthing Dome and Regeneration Trust has admitted: "At the moment we don't have a date for opening."

A source told The Argus that all the money had been spent but there was still work to do.

The trust had also been trying to appoint a cinema operator and tenants to run the catering and retail operations.

David Brock, historic buildings inspector for English Heritage, said: "The restoration isn't quite complete. My colleague who is the architect is going there in about ten days for what he thinks is the final checking off of what's been done.

"As far as we are concerned it has been a pretty satisfactory job. I don't know of any gigantic problems. I think we would know if there were.

"There have been plenty of delays. If they have decided not to fix a date (for opening) we shall want to inspect it."

In a statement, Worthing Dome and Regeneration Ltd said: "Trustees of the Worthing Dome cinema are sorry to have to announce that the official opening of the historic building has been further delayed.

"The building was due to open in November 2006 but essential, on-going restoration works have meant that such an opening date was, in hindsight, unrealistic.

"The trustees remain excited about the project and plan to be able to reopen during the course of 2007. With a restoration such as this, the work involved can be more complicated than is usually the case with a construction project. As such, the trustees are keen to ensure they do not reopen for business prematurely.

"The trustees will make a further announcement once a new opening date has been fixed."

A spokesman for the Heritage Lottery Fund said: "A restoration project of this size and complexity can often result in delays and unavoidable interruptions but, as with all projects of this size, we are working closely with the Dome cinema project team to ensure any budgetary implications are properly considered and recognised in advance."

The main contractor was Longley, which put on a new Welsh slate roof, rewired the building, installed a new £35,000 lift, replaced rusting steel supports and fixed the drainage.

In addition, the famous dome tower landmark was refurbished to create a two-tier function room and the 589 seats in the Edwardian auditorium were reupholstered.

A spokesman for Longley said: "Practical completion was achieved on August 28 in accordance with the revised contract completion date.

"The extent of additional works that were necessary and instructed was such that the original budget was exceeded.

"By mutual agreement, certain non-essential works were excluded from our contract, to be completed direct by our client.

"Minor snagging issues aside, which would have little or no impact on building usage, and which will be attended to according to standard snagging procedure, the practical completion concluded Longley's involvement. Any opening date would be defined by our client's letting schedules."

Worthing Borough Council is hoping to close its tourist information centres (TICs) in Chapel Road and on the seafront and open a new office at the Dome.

Mike Bleakley, the council's assistant director of strategy, said: "We are still working towards moving the two TICs towards the Dome cinema.

"We have been in negotiations with the trust but there are still a number of issues on the terms and conditions that remain unresolved.

"We need to protect the council's and the taxpayers' position. We would hope to move in for the summer of next year but we are keeping our options open."

The trustees had planned to stage a VIP gala night in November, with the Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde, who wrote the play in Worthing during the 1890s, the featured film.

Stephen Frears, director of the hit movie The Queen, starring Helen Mirren, was scheduled to be guest of honour.

During the Eighties, the council wanted to demolish the Dome as maintenance costs soared, sparking a huge protest.

Comics Spike Milligan and Roy Hudd, and actors Christopher Timothy and the late Tom Bell backed the campaign, forcing the council into a U-turn.