PICTURED: Take a tour inside this £5m Halesowen care complex boasting a cafe, cinema and hair salon

This is the first look inside a three storey 66-bedroom care complex in Halesowen that has a cafe, hair salon – and even a cinema.

Gower Gardens in Kent Road opened its doors to the public for an exclusive preview event before the first residents move in.

Around 22 rooms are already reserved at the home – which cost £5 million to build – before it will officially open in January.

The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Mohammed Hanif and Mayoress Zabeda Khanam with Director of Care and Social Business Janette Beckett as she gives a guided tour

Amanda Tomlinson, chief executive of Black Country Housing Group (BCHG) which is behind the build, described it as being 'more like a hotel' rather than a care home.

She said: "We are incredibly proud of it and what a beautiful building it is. It will provide high quality accommodation for people in the borough.

"I think people have a perception of care homes as quite institutional but this is more like a hotel. The first residents will start to move in in a few weeks and before we plan to open in the new year."

Councillor Peter Bilson, chairman of BCHG, said: "It not like how you would imagine a home to be.

Chief Executive Amanda Tomlinson, centre, with Councillor Pete Bilson and Night Manager Maria Smith in one of the rooms at Gower Gardens

"It oozes quality and there is that concept of independence that we have incorporated too."

Around 50 jobs have been created at the home, ranging from care assistants to kitchen staff. The complex boasts three separate living areas for those who are dependant, independent and diagnosed with dementia.

All rooms are en-suite with modern facilities such as Wi-Fi, fridges and flat screen TVs.

Decor has been colour coordinated to be 'dementia friendly'.

The second floor has a coffee shop and cafe for family and friends along with hair salon and cinema with popcorn machine.

Maria Smith, night manager, said: "There has been a real feel of nostalgia added to the rooms too, with pictures of the past of the Halesowen and Stourbridge area on the walls and the cinema so that they can reminisce about the old classics."

Work for six bungalows is also under way for those who have complex care needs but wish to remain independent.

The construction of Gower Gardens has been the first purpose built new care home development for BCHG.

The former Shenstone Care Home was closed by Dudley Council in 2012 as it was not fit for purpose.

Dudley Council made the decision to close the home as money was poured into five retirement villages across the borough.