UK’s oldest cinema is at risk of closure – 115 years old

One of the UK’s oldest cinemas is currently at risk of closing after 115 years of running. The Ultimate Picture Palace is an independent cinema that was founded in 1911 and has been community-owned since 2022, but is at risk of closing due to the need for repairs and renovations.

The cinema is within a Grade II listed building, so it can’t be knocked down, but it can be repurposed. Landlord Oriel College has agreed to a lease running until 2037. However, supporters of the cinema say the building needs repairs and renovations that investors would only fund if it were granted a longer-term lease beyond that date.

People hoping to restore the Ultimate Picture Palace are campaigning to raise £50,000 to fund the essential work needed; shareholders have already donated £28,000, but the campaigners are hoping others will help them reach the remaining target.

Meanwhile, Time Out ranked the cinema 21st among the 50 best cinemas in the UK. The global media page explained that this cinema is a cosy spot with only one screen.

Despite being out of the city centre, the venue fills up very quickly, and there are “brilliant” pubs nearby for post-film drinks. The cinema is said to offer a good mix of mainstream movies, classics, and foreign films.

A spokesperson for the cinema wrote on their website and shared: “We’re sorry to bring you the difficult news that the future of the UPP [Ultimate Picture Palace] is at great risk. Today, we’re launching a campaign to save it.

“So that this special cinema is fit for the future, we need to invest in better access, better sightlines, better sound quality and more efficient use of energy. We have planning permission and funders keen to support us if we can meet their requirements for a long-term lease.”

They continued: “But our landlord, Oriel College, won’t commit because our building is in the footprint of their plans for a ‘Fifth Quad’ to accommodate graduate students.

“Not only is the UPP well loved by people in Oxford – it’s defying national trends in ticket sales – it has historical and cultural significance way beyond our city.

“Opened in 1911, the cinema is housed in an iconic Grade II listed building. It’s one of the oldest independent cinemas in England, and the only one which is community-owned, with over 1,200 shareholders.

“Help us persuade Oriel College to extend our lease so we can stay where we belong.” Find out how to save the cinema.