Govanhill Picture House
Govanhill Picture House is a former Egyptian-themed cinema and bingo hall in Govanhill, Glasgow, later used as the warehouse and head office of John Greenlees Ltd shoe shops.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Govanhill Picture House is a historic former cinema building in Govanhill, Glasgow. Constructed in 1926, it was designed by architect Eric A. Sutherland in an Egyptian-inspired style and originally accommodated approximately 1,200 people. Its first principal use was as a cinema, reflecting the rapid expansion of purpose-built picture houses in British urban communities during the interwar period. The venue continued operating as a cinema until 1961. It was then converted to use as a bingo hall, a common secondary life for cinemas whose original business model had become less viable. The bingo-hall phase lasted until 1974. From the early 1960s through the late 1980s, the building also served as the warehouse and head office of John Greenlees Ltd, a company operating shoe shops. This later commercial association explains the supplied address-based name, “Shoe Warehouse, 45, 47, 49 Bankhall Street, Glasgow,” but the canonical historical subject is the Govanhill Picture House building rather than a standalone contemporary shoe brand. After the John Greenlees period, the property continued to be used as a warehouse. Its condition deteriorated over time, and the building was affected by poor repair and general neglect. The roof was renewed in 2012 in response to its state of repair. The structure is listed at Category B, indicating regional or more-than-local architectural and historic importance in Scotland. Interest in restoring or reactivating the building as a cultural venue increased in the late 2010s. In 2018, plans were announced for the Queer Classics Film Festival to use the former cinema for an event intended to reconnect the building with its original purpose. The festival activity had support from the Glasgow School of Art and the University of Glasgow. In September 2019, the premises again functioned as a cinema for a screening of the 1920s film The Open Road, an event co-organised by Lydia Honeybone and Shireen Taylor through Glasgow Artists’ Moving Image Studios. The renewed screenings did not establish a permanent cinema. As of 2025, the building was reported to contain a halal grocer and a fabric shop, and Govanhill still had no continuously operating cinema. The site therefore represents a layered urban property history: purpose-built cinema, bingo hall, footwear-company headquarters and warehouse, followed by intermittent cultural reuse and ordinary retail occupation. It is best understood as a historic architectural venue and local landmark, not as an active consumer brand.
History
Govanhill Picture House was built in 1926 in Govanhill, Glasgow, as a purpose-built cinema. Its design was created by Eric A. Sutherland and incorporated an Egyptian-themed architectural treatment, a style associated with the visual spectacle and historical imagery frequently used by cinemas during the period. The auditorium was designed to seat about 1,200 people, making it a substantial neighborhood entertainment venue. The building operated as a cinema until 1961. It then changed function and became a bingo hall, remaining in that role until 1974. The conversion reflected the wider pattern of former cinemas being adapted for bingo and other leisure uses as audience habits, competition and operating economics changed. From the early 1960s until the late 1980s, the premises were used by John Greenlees Ltd as the warehouse and head office for its shoe-shop business. This commercial use is the basis for the supplied address reference to a shoe warehouse at 45, 47 and 49 Bankhall Street. The building subsequently continued as a warehouse rather than returning to regular film exhibition. The property is Category B listed and later suffered from poor repair and general neglect. A new roof was installed in 2012 to address its deteriorating condition. Despite its non-cinematic uses, the former auditorium and its historic identity remained of interest to local cultural organisers. In 2018, plans were announced to use the building for the Queer Classics Film Festival. The proposed event was supported by the Glasgow School of Art and the University of Glasgow, with organiser Lydia Honeybone associated with the project. In September 2019, the building once again operated temporarily as a cinema when The Open Road, a film from the 1920s, was screened there. The event was co-organised by Honeybone and Shireen Taylor under the Glasgow Artists’ Moving Image Studios name. These events represented temporary cultural reactivation rather than a confirmed permanent reopening. By 2025, the building was reported to accommodate a halal grocer and a fabric shop. Govanhill had no regular cinema at that time. The site’s history consequently combines architectural heritage with changing commercial uses and occasional attempts to restore its public cultural role.
- 2019
Temporary return to film exhibition
[1]The Open Road is screened at the building in an event organised through Glasgow Artists’ Moving Image Studios.
- 2018
Cultural reuse plans announced
[1]Plans are announced for a Queer Classics Film Festival event at the former cinema.
- 2012
Building re-roofed
[1]The roof is renewed because of the property’s poor condition and neglect.
- 1974
Bingo-hall use ends
[1]The building’s period as a bingo hall comes to an end.
- 1961
Cinema operation ends
[1]The building ceases to operate as a cinema and is subsequently used as a bingo hall.
- 1926
Picture house opens in Govanhill
[1]An Egyptian-themed cinema designed by Eric A. Sutherland opens in Govanhill with seating for approximately 1,200 people.
Products and positioning
A locally significant, Category B-listed former cinema and adaptable commercial building with a history spanning film exhibition, bingo, footwear distribution, warehousing and occasional cultural events.
Film exhibition · 1926
Cinema exhibition
The building’s original and defining function was as a neighborhood cinema. It presented films in a purpose-built auditorium with capacity for approximately 1,200 people from its opening in 1926 until the end of regular cinema use in 1961.
Leisure and gaming venue · 1961
Bingo hall
After its cinema period, the premises operated as a bingo hall from 1961 to 1974. This was a secondary entertainment use of the former auditorium rather than a separate branded product line.
Film and arts events · 2018
Cultural film events
The former cinema has periodically hosted cultural film activity in the late 2010s, including a planned Queer Classics Film Festival event and a 2019 screening of The Open Road. These were temporary events, not evidence of a permanent cinema reopening.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019The Open Road screening
Glasgow · Scotland
Glasgow Artists’ Moving Image Studios co-organised a screening of the 1920s film The Open Road at the former picture house.
Outcome. The building briefly resumed use as a cinema, but it did not become a continuously operating cinema.
- 2018Queer Classics Film Festival at Govanhill Picture House
Glasgow · Scotland
The Queer Classics Film Festival proposed using the former cinema for an event that would restore temporary film-related activity to the building. The initiative was supported by the Glasgow School of Art and the University of Glasgow.
Outcome. The event represented a temporary cultural reuse initiative; no permanent cinema reopening is established by the available material.
Brand decisions
2012
Roof renewalOtherBackground
The listed building had deteriorated through poor repair and general neglect.
Action taken
The roof was replaced or renewed to address the building’s condition.
Aftermath
The property remained standing and available for later commercial and cultural uses.
1961
Conversion from cinema to bingo hallStrategyBackground
After operating as a cinema since 1926, the building changed to another form of leisure use.
Action taken
The premises were converted for bingo-hall operation.
Aftermath
Bingo use continued until 1974, after which the property entered longer-term commercial and warehouse uses.
Recent events
- 2019
Govanhill Picture House hosts a film screening again[1]
Product launch · Other
The building was used again as a cinema for a screening of the 1920s film The Open Road, co-organised by Lydia Honeybone and Shireen Taylor through Glasgow Artists’ Moving Image Studios.
- 2018
Plans announced for Queer Classics Film Festival at Govanhill Picture House[1]
Campaign · Other
Plans were unveiled to use the former cinema for a Queer Classics Film Festival event, bringing the building back into cultural use and reconnecting it with its original function.
- 2012
Roof renewal carried out at the former picture house[1]
Other
The building was re-roofed after concerns about its poor physical condition and prolonged neglect.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/shoe-warehouse-45-47-49-bankhall-street-glasgow · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled