Leeds' historic Hyde Park Picture House cinema has been given the final green-light by the Heritage Lottery Fund for its upcoming redevelopment, which will see the cinema receive over £3million of investment and secure its future for generations to come.

Thanks to money raised by the National Lottery, as well as significant match-funding support from Leeds City Council, the project will preserve, protect and celebrate the cinema’s unique heritage, whilst making the building more accessible and sustainable. 

The Picture House Project will see the cinema undergo essential conservation work to the façade and existing auditorium, alongside the creation of new facilities including a larger foyer space and a second screen located in the cinema’s large basement. The project will also allow the cinema’s rich history to be explored and celebrated, through archival screenings, heritage tours and educational workshops - helping to tell the story of filmmaking and film watching in the region. The building work is due to begin in Autumn 2019.

First opened in 1914, the Grade II listed Picture House is one of the UK’s oldest cinemas. During the First World War, the Picture House screened patriotic dramas and newsreels to boost morale during the action. It survived the advent of ‘talkies’ in the 1920s and continues to screen the very best independent and award-winning films from around the world.

Visit The Picture House Project to find out more, and explore the new plans. 

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