Campbeltown Picture House is one of the first purpose built cinemas in Scotland, built in 1913. This Grade-A listed building is unique, with a Glasgow school art nouveau exterior and an equally impressive and unusual ‘atmospheric style’ interior. It survives today as a rare space, largely unaltered from the 1935 remodelling by the original architect Albert V. Gardner. The Centenary Project was completed in December 2017 restoring this magnificent building and creating a modern cinema destination complete with a second screen, new foyer and café, and spaces for exhibitions, displays, education and community activities.
The restoration project included;
- Restoration of the historic auditorium; including modern heating, ventilation and seating
- Restoration of the unique art nouveau frontage of the building
- Transformation of the annexe to provide a new, contemporary foyer and café
- Creation of the multi-purpose exhibition space/meeting room/education room/green room
- Creation of a second state-of-the-art cinema auditorium in the rear courtyard complementing the historic cinema and providing programming flexibility
- A programme of heritage interpretation and education activities focused on the history of the Picture House, of cinema, and of Campbeltown’s social and cultural life
- Improved energy use throughout the venue including a modern efficient central heating system powered by a biomass wood-pellet boiler, extensive insulation, and a 40Kw photo-voltaic array on the roof
- Increased storage space for equipment, materials and furniture to support educational activities and business meetings
- Improved accessibility throughout
The Centenary Project team
Project Manager: Ron Inglis, Craigmount Consulting
Architect: Burrell Foley Fischer LLP, lead architect Stefanie Fischer
Construction: CorraMore Construction Ltd
Download a brochure about the architectural history and restoration project here
Campbeltown Community Business
Campbeltown Picture House is owned by Campbeltown Community Business Ltd which is managed by a volunteer board, chaired by Sid Gallagher.
Campbeltown Community Business Ltd is a Scottish Charity (SCO09499) and is a company limited by guarantee (SCI06763).