Duke Of York's Picturehouse
Rio Cinema
The Phoenix Picturehouse
The Rex
The Regent
Everyman Salisbury
La Charrette
The Colosseum Cinema
Duke Of York's Picturehouse- This cinema is located in Brighton and is the oldest purpose built cinema in the UK, opening on the 22nd of September 1910. It has had a few owners through the years, operating as an arts cinema in 1981, as well as hosting illegal punk rock concerts. It was not until 1991 when 'Picturehouse' took over and refurbished it, restoring it to the cinema it is today. The cinema has 278 seats.
Rio Cinema- This cinema is located in London and has been screening films since 1909 and was one of London's first cinemas, originally opening as an auctioneers shop. After WW2, the building was modernised in 1937 and is pretty much the same as what people see in there today. The cinema has 1 screen and can seat up to 400 people. Through the decades it went through different phases, being a classic cartoon cinema in 1959, and arthouse venue in 1960, screening adult films in 1970, eventually becoming the ‘Rio Cinema’ in 1975, turning into a charity in 1979.
The Phoenix Picturehouse- This cinema is located in Oxford and originally opened in 1913 under the name ‘The North Oxford Kinema’. It was not until 1930 when sound equipment was installed. In 1977 it was named the phoenix and after another change in ownership, in 1989, it became the first venue which formed the ‘Picturehouse’ chain of cinemas. The cinema has 2 screens which are split across the bottom of the venue, where there is a bar at the top, with original tiling.
The Rex- This cinema is located in Wareham, originally called the ‘Oddfellows Hall’, which it was originally used for concerts, traveling shows and banquets. During the great Wareham war, the cinema closed and was not re-opened until 1920. In 1927 the first ever ‘talkies’ were shown. Throughout its lifetime, the owners have kept the cinemas character, even though there are some newer elements, it still has some original ones, like the 'love-seats'. In 2009, the cinema was acquired by the Purbeck Film Charitable Trust, and it became a not-for profit cinema run almost entirely by hardworking volunteers.
The Regent- This cinema is located in Christchurch, opening in 1931, being built for local solicitor Thomas J Rowley, holding 700 patrons in circle and stalls. In 1973 the building was on the verge of closing after having a few owners, luckily, it was converted into a bingo hall, which it served as until 1982. In 1983, a group of volunteers persuaded the council that the building should be used for public good, screening films and tv until today.
Everyman Salisbury- Originally opening in 1936 and after being converted into a bingo hall in the 60’s, ‘Everyman’ host 4 screens and a kitchen/bar with a retro atmosphere.
La Charrette- This cinema is located in Swansea and is the smallest cinema in Wales, as well as one of the smallest in the UK, seating only 23 people. The cinema was constructed in the 1950’s by Gwyn Phillips as a village cinema for Gorseinon. The cinema has been constructed form a 1920 GWR carriage, being a popular venue for over 50 years before it became beyond economic repair. In 2008, the Heritage Center helped restore this venue, allowing for it to be used in private hire.
The Colosseum- This cinema is located in Westbourne, Bournemouth and is one of the smallest cinemas in the UK. It has 3 screens, with the smallest screen seating just 9 people. It also has a bar upstairs and is available for private hire. The Colosseum has been going since 2015.