In parts of south-west London, historic buildings once facing closure are reopening with new purposes.
Old art-deco cinemas – all sweeping curves, patterned plaster and once-faded glamour – are back in use.
They’re not just screening films.
They’re becoming the sort of places where music, spoken word and local events sit comfortably under the same roof.
The revival of these venues reflects a broader trend in how entertainment spaces are adapting to modern audiences.
From traditional stages to digital platforms, the ways people seek out culture and leisure continue to expand.
Live music venues are introducing streamed performances alongside in-person shows.
Independent cinemas are adding interactive screenings and themed events to attract wider audiences.
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This shift reflects a wider pattern where historic and modern venues alike are finding new ways to stay relevant.
Blending tradition with contemporary features is proving effective in keeping audiences engaged.
The approach can be seen in restored landmarks as much as in purpose-built spaces designed for today’s cultural demands.
Take the former Granada cinema in Walthamstow.
Opened in the 1930s, it was grand enough for nearly 3,000 seats.
Those days are gone; today it holds 960.
A smaller number, but a better fit for modern audiences.
Restoration teams didn’t strip it bare.
They left parts of the ageing surfaces untouched, a deliberate choice so the past isn’t hidden away.
The Alhambra-style flourishes still catch the light.
Around them, new foyers, a café, a bar and step-free access now make the place workable in a way it hasn’t been for decades.
Further west, in Harrow, the Dominion Cinema has shrugged off the steel cladding that masked its frontage since the 1960s.
Locals can now see the restored art-deco frontage once more. Plans call for four screens, a café and a community space, with flats in the upper storeys.
It combines preserved heritage features with modern facilities to ensure the venue remains in active use.
In Dalston, the old Savoy cinema has travelled an even stranger path – from silver screen to snooker hall, and now to Evolutionary Arts Hackney, known as EartH.
A rebuild costing £3million produced a 750-seat tiered theatre upstairs, while the ground floor is an events space for 1,200 people.
The look still nods to the period it was built in, though the wiring, sound rigs and seating are all up to date.
Across these sites, there’s a pattern: details like plaster mouldings and original layouts kept in place, set alongside bars, cafés and flexible stages.
These venues are once again active parts of their communities.
Footfall returns. Lights go up.
The link between the buildings’ history and the neighbourhoods’ present feels more tangible than it has in years – showing how restored buildings can serve contemporary needs while preserving their character.
Feature image: Free to use from Unsplash
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