In a piece of glorious news for cinema-lovers, Leeds’s historic Hyde Park Picture House is reopening later this month after a long period with the shutters up.
The Grade II-listed, 109-year-old building – one of Time Out’s pick of UK and Irish cinemas – has had a £4 million refurbishment. It reopens to the public on June 30 after two years of restoration work.
With help from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Leeds cinema has added a 50-seat second screen in the basement and a café/bar, repaired its historic façade, restored its original terrazzo flooring and added wheelchair access.
The cinema’s rarest feature – nine gas lights – have also been refurbished and will be lit for every screening.
‘We had no idea of the challenges ahead and how long our original timeline would have to be extended,’ says Chris Blythe, Leeds Heritage Theatres CEO. ‘Nor did we fully appreciate the support and love so many people across the city and nationally would show for our cinema. As we stand on the cusp of re-opening, we are looking forward to a bright future with this gem of a Picture House restored and more accessible than ever before.’
Cutting the ribbon on the new look is Wes Anderson’s latest, ‘Asteroid City’, followed by a ‘summer of screenings and launch events for each of the Picture House’s distinct programme strands’.
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