Gate Cinema
A Grade II listed cinema in Notting Hill Gate, London, operating under the Picturehouse Cinemas banner.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Gate Cinema is a historic cinema located in Notting Hill Gate, London W11. The venue opened in April 1911 as the Electric Palace, following the conversion of a former 1861 restaurant by William Hancock. Its original auditorium held approximately 480 people and was designed in the decorative Edwardian style associated with early British picture palaces. The cinema has retained much of its historic character, particularly its auditorium and elaborate plaster decoration, which later contributed to its protection as a listed building. The venue passed through several operating identities during the twentieth century. It was acquired by Capitol & Provincial News Theatres and renamed The Embassy. After that company became Classic Cinemas, the cinema adopted the name Classic Cinema in 1957. The building suffered damage during the Second World War Blitz, after which its exterior was replaced with a considerably plainer design. In 1962, the foyer was reconstructed by Douton and Hurst. Following the collapse of Classic Cinemas, the venue was renamed The Gate in 1974 and operated by Cinegate. It closed in 1985, but reopened the following year after acquisition by the newly established Oasis Cinemas Group, a division of the Island Group owned by PolyGram. Oasis subsequently expanded its cinema interests through acquisitions including The Cameo in Edinburgh and the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton. English Heritage designated the building Grade II listed in 2000. The listing recognized the survival of the auditorium and its exceptionally rich Edwardian baroque plasterwork, placing the cinema among a group of historically significant British cinema buildings protected during that period. Picturehouse Cinemas took over operation in 2003, after which the venue was refurbished in 2004 and again in 2024. Today, Gate Cinema functions as a local London cinema and heritage venue within the Picturehouse network, combining contemporary film exhibition with an architecturally distinctive setting.
History
Gate Cinema opened in April 1911 under the name Electric Palace. William Hancock converted an existing restaurant dating from 1861 to create a cinema with seating for around 480 patrons. The building was part of the early development of purpose-built and converted picture houses that served London's growing filmgoing public during the Edwardian period. The cinema later entered the Capitol & Provincial News Theatres circuit and was renamed The Embassy. When that operator became Classic Cinemas, the venue was renamed Classic Cinema in 1957. Its history was affected by wartime damage: the building was hit during the Blitz, and the replacement exterior was less ornate than the original. A subsequent foyer reconstruction was completed in 1962 by Douton and Hurst. In 1974, after the disappearance of Classic Cinemas, the venue adopted the name The Gate and was run by Cinegate. It closed in 1985. The cinema returned to operation in 1986 after acquisition by Oasis Cinemas Group, a newly formed cinema division of the Island Group, which was owned by PolyGram. Oasis later broadened its portfolio with the acquisition of other notable cinemas, including The Cameo in Edinburgh and the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton. The Gate's architectural importance was formally recognized in 2000, when English Heritage awarded the building Grade II listed status. The designation focused especially on the largely unaltered auditorium and its unusually lavish Edwardian baroque plaster decoration. This protection established the cinema not only as a functioning exhibition venue but also as an important surviving example of historic cinema architecture. Picturehouse Cinemas took over operation in 2003. The cinema was refurbished in 2004 and received another refurbishment in 2024. It remains an operating cinema at Notting Hill Gate, presenting films and cinema events under the Picturehouse brand while retaining its historic identity and listed architectural features.
- 2024
Further refurbishment
[1]The cinema underwent another refurbishment while continuing as a Picturehouse venue.
- 2004
First Picturehouse-era refurbishment
[1]The venue was refurbished after its transfer to Picturehouse operation.
- 2003
Joined the Picturehouse network
[1]Picturehouse Cinemas took over operation of the cinema.
- 2000
Received Grade II listed status
[1]English Heritage recognized the building's surviving historic auditorium and decorative plasterwork.
- 1986
Reopened under Oasis Cinemas Group
[1]The newly formed Oasis Cinemas Group acquired and reopened the venue.
- 1985
Closed
[1]The cinema ceased operations for a period before being acquired and reopened by Oasis Cinemas Group.
- 1974
Adopted the name The Gate
[1]Following the demise of Classic Cinemas, the venue became The Gate under Cinegate operation.
- 1962
Foyer rebuilt
[1]Douton and Hurst reconstructed the cinema foyer.
- 1957
Renamed Classic Cinema
[1]The venue changed its name after its operating company, Capitol & Provincial News Theatres, became Classic Cinemas.
- 1911
Opened as the Electric Palace
[1]A converted 1861 restaurant reopened as a cinema with capacity for approximately 480 people.
Products and positioning
A neighborhood cinema combining contemporary film exhibition with a protected Edwardian picture-palace interior and a strong heritage identity.
Film exhibition
Cinema screenings
Gate Cinema's core offering is public film exhibition in its Notting Hill venue. As a Picturehouse-operated cinema, it presents a contemporary program within a historically significant auditorium. The available source material confirms the venue's continuing role as a cinema but does not provide a complete schedule or detailed breakdown of programming categories.
Cinema venue · 1911
Historic auditorium
The auditorium is the venue's principal heritage feature. Its largely preserved form and elaborate Edwardian baroque plaster decoration were central to the building's Grade II listing in 2000. The auditorium provides the architectural setting for the cinema's modern screenings and supports its identity as a heritage picture house.
Brand decisions
2024
Further venue refurbishmentOtherBackground
The listed cinema required another round of venue work more than a decade after its earlier refurbishment.
Action taken
Gate Cinema was refurbished again.
Aftermath
The cinema continued operating at Notting Hill Gate under Picturehouse Cinemas.
2004
Post-takeover refurbishmentOtherBackground
The cinema underwent improvement work after Picturehouse Cinemas became its operator.
Action taken
The venue was refurbished while retaining its historic cinema identity.
Aftermath
Gate Cinema remained an operating Picturehouse venue.
2003
Transfer to Picturehouse operationM&ABackground
After the venue's earlier history under Cinegate and Oasis Cinemas Group, Picturehouse Cinemas took over its operation.
Action taken
Picturehouse added Gate Cinema to its operating network.
Aftermath
The venue was refurbished in 2004 and continued operating under the Gate and Picturehouse identities.
Sources2 sources
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