Past News

CHESTER: Picturehouse opens in boost for long-awaited city scheme
A new cinema opens its doors later as the final part of the first phase of a major city centre development.
The six screen Picturehouse is part of the Chester's Northgate complex, which includes a multi-storey car park, market and restaurants.
The opening of the cinema comes a year after the launch of the new market, which has since welcomed more than two million visitors, the council said.

DERBY: New Assembly Rooms theatre plan scrapped over soaring costs
Derby City Council has confirmed plans to build a new theatre on the Assembly Rooms site have been scrapped.
The authority was awarded £20m of levelling up cash to demolish the venue, closed since a fire in 2014, and replace it with a new theatre.
However the council has said rising costs have now made that plan "unviable".
It says it will instead divert the £20m into redeveloping both the Guildhall Theatre and the Derby Theatre.

EDINBURGH: Portobello art deco cinema protected status challenge
The beloved art deco landmark that has lain empty for almost eight years holds within it a "rare survival in Scotland".
Rare is the survival of streamlined interiors like that of the 1939 cinema, which has faced a bid by a developer seeking to turn it into homes to have its historic recognition withdrawn.
However, Historic Environment Scotland found against the application by Buckley Building to have the picture house's listed status removed.

GAINSBOROUGH: Savoy Cinema commits to £9m plan
West Lindsey District Council has teamed up with Savoy Cinemas for the delivery of a £9m town centre regeneration project including a four-screen cinema, restaurant, retail units and car parking.

IPSWICH: Regent Theatre opens new backstage facilities
More dressing rooms and space are available to performers at the region's biggest theatre with the opening of an extension costing upwards of £300,000.

OLDHAM: Coliseum: Ex-Corrie actress reignites calls to save theatre
Former Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh has said "arts and culture matter massively to small struggling northern towns" ahead of a flash-mob event to try to save a local theatre.
Oldham Coliseum closed in March after losing all of its funding from Arts Council England.
A campaign to save the theatre has been backed by a host of stars who honed their talents at the auditorium.


AUSTRALIA: SYDNEY: ‘Final curtain call for Kings Cross’: Theatre to become new hotel
One of Kings Cross’s last surviving art deco theatres is to be converted into a boutique hotel and cabaret room despite the last-minute intervention of the state’s former arts minister.
Town Hall’s Central Planning Committee granted conditional approval on Thursday night to repurpose the Metro-Minerva Theatre, a building notable for its interwar modernist architecture .

LONDON (Brixton): The excellent Whirled Cinema in Loughborough Junction needs your support to keep going
Located in an arch in Loughborough Junction, the Whirled Cinema describes itself as being a “world away from your everyday multiplex experience.”
Opening in 2010, the independent members cinema screens a diverse programme of the best of current world and art house cinema, with an affordable subscription scheme offering unlimited films for individuals (plus one guest) for just £9.99/month.
Sadly, the cinema is suffering in the current economic climate and is now appealing for more people to take up memberships, or make a financial contribution if possible.

LONDON (Mayfair): Competing visions for the Curzon Mayfair cinema
The operators and supporters of the famous London picturehouse have one view of the way forward for this revered cultural landmark, its landlord has a rather different one...

BATHGATE: Cinema evacuated after 'toilet roll set on fire' in bathroom
A cinema in Bathgate was forced to evacuate after a toilet roll was set on fire in a bathroom.
Emergency services were called to the independently run cinema at around 8pm on Saturday, and the fire was successfully extinguished.
The cinema took to social media, where it revealed that the fire alarm was set off after a “group of boys entered the premises and set a toilet roll on fire”.

BELFAST: £6.5million redevelopment of Northern Ireland’s only operational art deco picturehouse
The major restoration of the Strand Arts Centre will secure the future of a treasured Belfast landmark and create much-needed new arts spaces for the community.
On completion, guests will have a ‘living museum’ experience, where they can absorb the architectural and social history of a pre-war cinema, with the sensitive restoration of original architectural features including the building’s iconic façade, entrance and foyer.

CHESTER: Picturehouse confirms opening date and first film screenings
Chester Picturehouse, a six-screen cinema at the heart of the Chester Northgate development, has confirmed it will be opening its doors on Friday, November 10.
The cinema chain had been due to open its doors several months earlier, but was delayed amid uncertainty over the financial health of parent company Cineworld.

LICHFIELD: Plans submitted for new cinema development in city centre
Formal plans have been submitted for the new cinema development in Lichfield.
The proposals would see the former Debenhams site become a four-screen facility.

MILTON KEYNES: Plans for 21-storey apartment block to replace iconic building submitted to city council
A planning application submitted to Milton Keynes City Council includes the demolition of The Point, to make way for a new apartment block in Central Milton Keynes.
The plans include up to 500 build to rent, private and affordable apartments over the upper floors of the 21-story building.
The redevelopment would also include re-cladding of the existing car park with leisure uses such as a bar, outdoor sports and cinema at rooftop level.

PLYMOUTH: Vue cinema deep-cleaned after mouse spotted climbing on seat inside screening room
A cinema has enhanced its cleaning processes after rodents were spotted in the venue.
Vue confirmed that a member of the audience spotted a mouse inside Plymouth's Vue Cinema, in Barbican Leisure Park, while attending a screening last week.

PONTARDAWE: Plans submitted for new cinema at historic arts centre
Plans for the construction of a new cinema at an arts centre, which dates back to the early part of the 20th century, have been submitted for approval for a second time.
Pontardawe Arts Centre first opened in May 1909 and was first known as the Pontardawe Public Hall and Institute.
The arts centre was originally paid for by the workers through a subscription scheme, and featured a 1,500-seat theatre, meeting rooms, offices, a billiard hall, library and reading rooms.

SWINDON: New cinema experience opens in historic building
Create Studios based in the listed Carriage Works launched the new Sofa Screenings earlier this month offering someone 'a little different' for film lovers...
Sofa Screenings launched on October 12 with a new film on offer every Friday evening through the autumn and into next spring.
Some of the upcoming films that are on the Sofa Screenings programme include The Lobster, Empire of Light, The Sound of Metal, Shape of Water, Next Goal Wins and Bend It Like Beckham.

UNITED STATES (Hollywood): Photos: Egyptian Theatre’s Stunning Renovation
Hollywood’s iconic Egyptian Theatre has survived earthquakes, recessions and strikes, as well as a number of remodels. On Nov. 9, Netflix reveals an extensive remodel of the 101-year old theater that will also host screenings for the American Cinematheque.

Week commencing Monday 23rd October 2023

LONDON (Ealing): New cinema, bar and restaurant announced at West London development
St George, a member of the Berkeley Group, and Picturehouse Cinemas, have confirmed plans to open its eight-screen cinema in Ealing on 20 October.
Located at Filmworks, an art-deco inspired residential, leisure and hospitality destination by St George, the cinema is the largest Picturehouse outside of London’s West End, with over 900 seats and a café, bar and restaurant.

LONDON (Forest Hill): ‘Grandest’ Wetherspoons in London permanently closes...
London’s ‘grandest’ Wetherspoons, based inside a converted 1920s Forest Hill cinema, has permanently closed its doors.
The Capitol in Forest Hill ushered out its last punters last night (October 15) after JD Wetherspoon made the “commercial decision” to close the site.
The iconic boozer was located at the former Capitol cinema, described as a “rare survival” of a complete 1920s art deco picture house.
It is currently unclear if there is a new buyer and, if so, who it is.

BLACKPOOL: Dismantling of former cinema on track - but its future use is still to be decided
The 10-week project has seen Pete Marquis Contractors dismantling the screens and clearing the former movie theatres at the 10-screen multiplex on Rigby Road.
Mr Marquis said: “We’re well on schedule and have upped the manpower and machinery on the site so the work should be finished by the end of the month.”

BOLTON: 'Lost' Cannon Cinema - were you a regular filmgoer?
The cinema was Bolton’s last surviving town centre cinema when it closed in 1998. Built as the Lido cinema, it opened in 1937 and was for a time a casino and part of the building also housed a disco.
The building was demolished in 2006.
Do you remember the cinema? Share your memories with us by emailing bygones@nqnw.co.uk or leave a comment.

DARTFORD: ‘Good news’ as Orchard Theatre replacement set to open
Dartford Borough Council has confirmed a 1,000 seat temporary venue is set to open yards from The Orchard Theatre.
This is due to concerns over the RAAC concrete in The Orchard Theatre’s roof, which forced closure of the venue in September.
Orchard West is scheduled to open in late November as a fully-functional, temporary, enclosed performance space with 1,000 seats –
complete with seating, heating and cooling systems, access provision and full backstage and front-of-house facilities including indoor toilets and bars.

DEVISES: The Palace Cinema could reopen by end of 2024
An historic town centre cinema could reopen to customers next year after a major refurbishment, says a town councillor.
On Tuesday, October 17, several Devizes town councillors were given a tour of The Palace Cinema in the Market Place, which has been closed during a three-year renovation.
After the tour, Cllr Judy Rose revealed that owners Picturedrome Cinemas are aiming to reopen the much-loved venue by the end of 2024, if the ongoing works are completed to schedule.

ELLAND: The Rex Cinema: Historic and well-loved cinema could shut as owner warns 'we need our regular patrons back, and we need them now'
That is the warning from (CTA member) Charles Morris, owner of the Rex cinema in Elland, who says the Calderdale treasure is struggling for visitors.
He said people need to realise the independent cinema “can’t survive on people visiting maybe once or twice a year for the big blockbusters”.
Mr Morris reopened the Rex 35 years ago and it has become a much-loved Calderdale institution, attracting patrons from across the borough and beyond.

GLASGOW: In Pictures: Remembering 12 lost cinemas
Glasgow has a rich cinema history which has dramatically changed over time.

KILMARNOCK: Odeon cinema and Costa close suddenly due to 'unforeseen issues'
The Odeon in Kilmarnock is currently out of action due to an unknown reason.
A sign on one of the doors states that the eight-screen facility has been shut down due to "unforeseen facilities issues".
While cinema bosses say the Queen's Drive filmhouse will reopen as soon as possible, there has been no date or time given for the door to reopen again.
[The Odeon cinema reopened on Tuesday 17th after a 'water supply issue'...]

PRESTWICK: Plans to restore Broadway Cinema gather pace
From the 1930s until the 1960s, Prestwick’s Broadway Cinema was the place to be.
By 1966, the Broadway was a bingo hall. A brief bid to bring back movies to the building lasted just 10 months in 1976 and from 1983 to 2003, it became Prestwick Leisure Centre, with an amusement arcade and squash courts
The Friends of the Broadway, a registered charity of local residents, have campaigned for years to raise funds to bring the building back to life.
The cost of restoring the building into a working cinema, with other facilities for the community included in the design, is in the region of £10-12million.
Now, however, they are on the cusp of success...

ST. ANDREWS: Petition to block Tiger Woods' new sports bar
A petition has been launched to try and prevent Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake opening a new premium sports and entertainment gastro-pub in St Andrews.
The venue will open in 2024, subject to planning approval, in the New Picture House Cinema on North Street.