Torbay Council Set to Support Historic Cinema Restoration

The initiative to restore a historic cinema in Devon is poised to advance significantly this week. Torbay Council’s cabinet committee is anticipated to commit £2.5 million in funding for the Paignton Picture House restoration project during its meeting on Tuesday evening. Council members have received a recommendation to approve the allocation of £900,000 from the Future High Streets fund for the project, in addition to guaranteeing the rebuild’s execution themselves, amounting to approximately £1.6 million. This decision will enable the continuation of work on restoring what is widely regarded as Europe’s oldest surviving purpose-built cinema. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports that the council’s action follows a request from the Paignton Picture House Trust, which had initially aimed to secure the necessary funds independently but encountered setbacks due to rising costs and a stringent deadline. Paul Hawthorne, the trust chairman, stated in a letter to the council that his team had believed a year prior that the funding was secured, but increasing costs and inflationary pressures had created a “gap.” The Arts Council has consented to provide funding for the rebuild, but has stipulated that the remaining funds must be secured before its contribution is released. Consequently, the trust requires Torbay Council to guarantee fundraising efforts to facilitate the release of essential funds from the Arts Council. Cabinet members are scheduled to vote on entering a “tripartite” agreement with the trust and the Arts Council to ensure the project’s progression. A report presented to the cabinet indicated that the council would maintain a “robust” oversight of the cinema rebuild’s costs, while the trust would retain the authority to monitor and dispute any council decisions as necessary.