Regent Street Cinema

Regent Street Cinema is an independent cinema at 307 Regent Street in central London, next to the University of Westminster. The venue occupies part of the historic building originally associated with the Royal Polytechnic Institution, which later became the University of Westminster. Established in 1848, it began as a theatre and subsequently developed into a cinema venue. Its historical significance rests particularly on a screening in late February 1896 of a short motion picture by the Lumière brothers. The event is widely regarded as the first presentation of moving footage in the United Kingdom, giving the venue its long-standing description as the “birthplace of British cinema.” The cinema also has an association with the early history of film classification in Britain. In 1951 it screened La Vie Commence Demain (Life Begins Tomorrow), a film treated as X-rated because of its war-related imagery. The screening is described as the first showing of an X-rated film in the United Kingdom. Although film screenings continued for many decades after the Lumière presentation, the cinema closed in 1980. For much of the following 35 years, the space was used primarily as a lecture theatre rather than as a public cinema. The University of Westminster began a restoration project in 2012, seeking to recover the venue’s architectural and cinematic identity. The work restored Art Deco elements associated with the building’s 1920 design, as well as the 1936 John Compton organ and the domed ceiling. The restoration was supported by a public appeal, a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and a contribution from the Quintin Hogg Trust. Following the restoration, the cinema reopened in 2016. Its reopening programme included the documentary Lambert & Stamp, about the managers of the English rock band The Who. The restored venue has 187 seats, a bar and a foyer, and presents both independent and studio films. It is also equipped to show material in several formats, including 16 mm, 35 mm, Super 8 and 4K digital projection. This combination of repertory capability, modern presentation and historic surroundings distinguishes Regent Street Cinema from a conventional multiplex. The venue’s present identity is therefore based on both cultural heritage and active exhibition. It functions as a central London cinema while preserving a direct connection to the development of film exhibition in Britain. Its Grade II listed status further links the operation to the architectural history of the Regent Street site. Public descriptions emphasize its role as a historic cinema and a venue capable of showing archival film formats that may otherwise be difficult to exhibit.

Regent Street Cinema was established in 1848 within the building of the Royal Polytechnic Institution on Regent Street in London. The space initially operated as a theatre. Its later importance derives from the transition from visual and theatrical entertainment toward moving-image exhibition, culminating in a Lumière brothers presentation in late February 1896. That screening is regarded as the first showing of moving footage in the United Kingdom and is the basis for the venue’s description as the birthplace of British cinema. The cinema continued to exhibit films for decades. In 1951 it screened La Vie Commence Demain, or Life Begins Tomorrow, which was treated as an X-rated film because of its war imagery. The event is described as the first United Kingdom screening of an X-rated film, adding a second distinction to the cinema’s place in British exhibition history. The venue closed in 1980 after approximately 84 years of film exhibition following the original Lumière screening. For most of the next 35 years, the room was used as a lecture theatre. Its relationship with the University of Westminster remained central because the cinema formed part of the university’s historic Regent Street site. In 2012 the University of Westminster began a three-year restoration programme. The project sought both to repair the building and to reinstate its function as a cinema. Funding came from several sources, including a public appeal, a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and a donation from the Quintin Hogg Trust. By February 2014, the appeal had reportedly raised £4 million toward a stated total restoration cost of £6.1 million. Public supporters included broadcaster Sandi Toksvig and filmmaker Asif Kapadia. The restoration reinstated Art Deco features associated with the building’s 1920 design, the 1936 John Compton organ and the domed ceiling. After the work, Regent Street Cinema reopened in 2016. The reopening programme included Lambert & Stamp, a documentary about the managers of The Who. The restored venue has 187 seats, a bar and a spacious foyer. It operates as an independent cinema showing both independent and studio films. Its technical identity is broader than that of a standard contemporary cinema. The venue can present 16 mm, 35 mm, Super 8 and 4K digital material, enabling it to combine current digital exhibition with the screening of archival prints and other historic formats. The cinema is housed in a Grade II listed building, so its current operation combines film programming with preservation of a significant historic interior. Regent Street Cinema’s modern brand is consequently built around continuity: it is a functioning central London cinema whose public identity is inseparable from the early history of film in Britain.

• 2016

  Restored cinema reopens

  [1]Regent Street Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  Regent Street Cinema returns to public cinema use after restoration, reopening with Lambert & Stamp among its early programme offerings.

• 2012

  University restoration project begins

  [1]Regent Street Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  The University of Westminster starts a project to restore the building and revive the cinema.

• 1980

  Cinema closes

  [1]Regent Street Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  The cinema stops operating as a film venue and the space is used primarily as a lecture theatre for approximately 35 years.

• 1951

  First United Kingdom screening of an X-rated film

  [1]Regent Street Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  The cinema screens Life Begins Tomorrow, classified as X-rated because of its war imagery.

• 1896

  First moving footage shown in the United Kingdom

  [1]Regent Street Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  A late-February screening of a short Lumière brothers film is regarded as the first presentation of moving footage in the United Kingdom.

• 1848

  Venue opens within the Royal Polytechnic Institution

  [1]Regent Street Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  The Regent Street venue opens as a theatre in the building of the Royal Polytechnic Institution, now associated with the University of Westminster.

A heritage-led independent cinema combining the history of early British film exhibition with contemporary independent, studio and archival screenings in central London.

• Cinema programming

  Independent film screenings

  The cinema presents independent films as part of its contemporary exhibition programme. This offering reflects its positioning as a smaller, independent central London venue rather than a multiplex, with programming conducted within a historic 187-seat auditorium.

• Cinema programming

  Studio film screenings

  Alongside independent work, Regent Street Cinema screens studio films. The combination allows the venue to serve a general cinema audience while retaining its heritage-focused identity and specialist exhibition capabilities.

• Repertory cinema

  Archival and repertory screenings

  The venue is equipped to screen 16 mm, 35 mm, Super 8 and 4K digital formats. This supports repertory and archival presentations, including films held in formats that are not routinely shown in mainstream digital cinemas.

• 2012Regent Street Cinema restoration appeal

  United Kingdom

  A restoration and fundraising effort led by the University of Westminster sought to repair the historic venue and return it to cinema use. The appeal attracted public support, including backing reported from Sandi Toksvig and Asif Kapadia.

  Outcome. The restoration proceeded and the cinema reopened in 2016.

  Source

• 2012

  Restore the historic venue for renewed cinema operationStrategy

  Background

  After the cinema had been closed since 1980 and used mainly as a lecture theatre, the University of Westminster began a project to restore the building and revive its public cinema function.

  Action taken

  The project restored Art Deco features, the 1936 John Compton organ and the domed ceiling, while fundraising combined an appeal with institutional and heritage support.

  Aftermath

  The restored cinema reopened in 2016 with a programme that included Lambert & Stamp and continued as an independent cinema.

  Reported restoration cost. £6.1 million (Restoration project reported in 2014)

  Source

1. 1Regent Street Cinemaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Regent Street Cinema official websitebirthplaceofcinema.com