Liverpool’s oldest cinema, Woolton Picture House, could soon be showing movies again thanks to a surge in ticket sales during a limited Christmas run, demonstrating strong community support for its permanent reopening.
A Festive Boost for a Beloved Landmark
The outpouring of support during December’s screenings has given a fundraising campaign a significant lift.
- Woolton Picture House, first opened in 1927, has been closed to the public since 2020.
- A community group, Woolton Cinema Community Interest Company (WCCIC), is aiming to raise £700,000 to purchase and restore the building.
- Recent Christmas screenings sold 7,300 tickets, generating approximately £50,000 in profit for the fundraising effort.
- Attendees shared emotional stories of past experiences at the cinema, highlighting its importance to the local community.
The historic Woolton Picture House, a fixture in Liverpool since 1927, has remained shuttered for the past five years. But a recent temporary reopening for a series of Christmas film screenings has ignited hope for a full-scale revival. The Woolton Cinema Community Interest Company (WCCIC) is currently spearheading a £700,000 fundraising campaign to buy the building and undertake necessary repairs.
“It has been a really lovely feeling across the whole of the 12 days,” said Lynn Dockerty, a director of WCCIC. “People have been coming in saying how much they remember the cinema and how they’ve been excited to come back. It brought back a lot of emotion for people. People have said the last time they were there, was maybe with their mum, dad, uncle, aunty, who has passed away since they last went. It’s just been a massive sense of community – and the ongoing fundraising will be a huge community effort.”
Woolton Picture HouseA Community Reconnects with its Past
The festive screenings weren’t just about the films themselves; they were about rekindling memories and a sense of belonging. The WCCIC reported selling 7,300 tickets during the Christmas period, generating around £50,000 in profit to bolster the fundraising campaign. Fellow director Iain Christie emphasized the significance of this support, stating, “It’s been invaluable. We know there is a long way to go but we also know that there is a lot of people out there who want this to happen.”
Lynn Dockerty