Woolton Cinema Aims to Become a Community Film Hub 2026

Key Points

• Restoration and development of Woolton Picture House have been planned by Woolton Cinema.
• The building was saved owing to a donation from an anonymous donor who sold the building on a 100-year lease to Woolton Cinema Community Interest Company.
• Cinema is to retain its main function but other community uses will also be considered.
• They include singing classes, yoga, coffeemornings and activities that will combat loneliness.
• It is hoped to attract £2.5 million for the reconstruction of the building which includes replacing of the roof, rewiring the building and the modernization of equipment.
• About £550,000 were collected during the fundraising campaign and can be used for the application for additional funding.
• The building has been renovated with toilets refurbishment and a flat stage in the auditorium constructed.
• The goal of the organization is to transform Woolton Cinema into “the best independent cinema in the world”.

Woolton (Liverpool standard) September 24, 2026 — Woolton Cinema has confirmed an ambitious plan to restore the historic Woolton Picture House and develop it into a community hub operating from morning until late evening.

The future plans were outlined by Kevin Fearon, who is leading the organisation behind the venue’s rescue and proposed refurbishment. In an interview with the Liverpool Echo, Fearon said the aim was to create a building that local people could use regularly, rather than a venue visited only occasionally to watch a film.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Fearon said: “I think the cinema needs to be a hub for the community that is working from 10am in the morning until 11pm at night, where people feel they can pop-in, and it belongs to them.”

The proposal would preserve the building’s identity as a cinema while giving it a wider role in local community life. The organisation is examining how the site could accommodate activities such as choir sessions, yoga and coffee mornings.

How was Woolton Cinema saved?

The cinema had remained dormant since the Covid-19 pandemic before a rescue effort was launched. The building first opened nearly a century ago and had faced an uncertain future after years without regular operation.

In May last year, Kevin and Gillian Fearon provisionally agreed to purchase the cinema for £450,000 from its owners. The couple had previously been involved in the restoration of the Royal Court Theatre.

To support the purchase, they established Woolton Cinema Community Interest Company, a not-for-profit organisation intended to bring the building into community ownership.

A fundraising campaign followed, with the organisers staging special screenings around Christmas and Valentine’s Day. They also worked with local businesses, including sandwich-makers Derek’s, to generate support and raise money.

The campaign operated against a deadline of Friday, May 8, 2026, when the organisation needed to raise the money required for the purchase. However, a late development changed the direction of the rescue effort.

A mystery donor bought the building outright and loaned it to Woolton Cinema CIC through a 100-year lease. The annual rent was set at £19.27, a figure linked to the year the cinema first opened: 1927.

This arrangement meant the money raised during the campaign could instead be directed towards improvements and refurbishment. According to the Liverpool Echo, the fundraising effort generated approximately £550,000.

What community activities could take place there?

The organisation is considering a range of uses that could operate alongside regular cinema screenings. These could include social, cultural and wellbeing activities aimed at encouraging residents to visit the building more frequently.

Fearon said the team was exploring potential activities including choir sessions, yoga and coffee mornings. He also highlighted loneliness as an important issue and said discussions were taking place about how the cinema could support a local initiative.

The CIC is looking to work with St Peter’s Church and Wilson House Medical Centre as part of those discussions. The intention is to develop an initiative involving the local community and to make the building a place where residents can meet and participate in activities.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Fearon said:

“Loneliness is a big thing these days, so how can we help? We’re looking to work with St. Peter’s Church and Wilson House Medical Centre on how we can develop an initiative that we can all be a part of, to help with loneliness.”

The proposal does not mean the venue would become a general-purpose community centre at the expense of its cinema function. Fearon stressed that the building would remain primarily a cinema and that this was part of the lease arrangement.

He said:

“Primarily, it’s a cinema, and that’s part of our lease. It’ll always be a cinema, and we want people to get back into the habit of going to the cinema, so it has to be on a regular basis that we show films.”

What refurbishment work has already been completed?

Some improvement work has already taken place since the building was secured. The organisation has refurbished one of the ladies’ toilets and is completing work on a second toilet in the main auditorium.

The remaining toilets are expected to be refurbished by the end of the year or the beginning of next year, according to the update reported by the Liverpool Echo.

The venue has also gained a new flat stage. The stage is approximately five metres deep and extends across much of the front apron of the auditorium.

The new structure is intended to make the space more flexible. It can be used for events and is also expected to provide improved space for selling ice creams and merchandise.

The projectionists’ room, meanwhile, has changed very little over the years. Its continuing historic character forms part of the building’s wider identity as an independent cinema with a long local history.

Why is Woolton Cinema seeking £2.5 million?

The CIC wants to raise £2.5 million for a larger programme of restoration and modernisation. The planned work goes beyond small repairs and would address major parts of the building’s structure and technical infrastructure.

The proposed improvements include:

• Replacing the roof rather than simply repairing it.
• Completing a full rewiring of the building.
• Installing better equipment.
• Continuing the refurbishment of the toilets and other internal areas.
• Improving the venue so it can support screenings, events and community activities.

The £550,000 raised during the original fundraising campaign could be used as leverage when applying for grants and other support. The organisation is considering applications to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and the British Film Institute.

Fearon said such applications could take a year or two to produce an outcome if they were successful. In the meantime, the CIC intends to continue with smaller interventions that can improve the building while larger funding decisions are pending.

The proposed £2.5 million project will depend on the outcome of those applications and any additional fundraising secured by the organisation. At this stage, the planned work represents an ambition rather than a fully funded programme.

What is the cinema’s long-term ambition?

The team has set an unusually ambitious target for the venue. Fearon said its aim remained to make Woolton Cinema “the best independent cinema in the world”.

That ambition is linked to both the restoration of the building and the creation of a sustainable operating model. The CIC wants the cinema to show films regularly, attract audiences throughout the day and provide opportunities for volunteers and community participation.

Fearon said a sense of ownership would not come simply from attending a film once a month. He suggested that local people could develop a stronger connection with the venue by volunteering or taking part in events.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, he said: “We want the community to feel a sense of ownership, and you don’t get that from just turning up to a cinema once a month. You get that from either being a volunteer or coming to the events that we put on.”

The approach combines heritage preservation with wider social use. However, the success of the plan will depend on the organisation securing significant funding, completing the necessary building work and attracting enough regular visitors to support ongoing operations.

Background: Woolton Picture House’s rescue

Woolton Picture House is a historic cinema building in Woolton, Liverpool, which first opened its doors in 1927. The venue had been left dormant since the Covid-19 pandemic before Kevin and Gillian Fearon began efforts to secure its future.

The couple formed Woolton Cinema Community Interest Company to raise funds and bring the site into community ownership. The campaign included temporary screenings and partnerships with local businesses.

A mystery donor ultimately purchased the building and made it available to the CIC through a 100-year lease at a nominal annual rent of £19.27. The figure reflects the cinema’s opening year and allows the money raised by the campaign to be directed towards restoration.

The latest plans build on that rescue by proposing regular film screenings, community events, volunteer opportunities and a large-scale refurbishment programme. The details and quotations in this report are based on coverage by the Liverpool Echo; the article supplied does not identify its author.

Prediction: How could the plan affect Woolton residents?

If the funding is secured, Woolton Cinema could become more than a place for film screenings. Residents may gain access to a restored local venue offering cinema, cultural events, social activities and volunteering opportunities.

The proposed partnership with St Peter’s Church and Wilson House Medical Centre could also give the building a role in local efforts to reduce loneliness. Coffee mornings, group activities and regular events may encourage people to visit more frequently and build stronger links with other residents.

For cinema audiences, the refurbishment could lead to improved facilities, upgraded equipment and a more reliable programme of screenings. The new stage may also allow the venue to host a wider range of events and provide additional opportunities for local organisations.

The main uncertainty is funding. The £2.5 million target is substantial, and grant applications could take one or two years to produce results. Until further funding is secured, progress is likely to continue through smaller improvements rather than the complete transformation described in the long-term plan.

If the CIC can secure the required support and maintain regular attendance, Woolton Cinema could strengthen its position as a community-focused independent venue while preserving the historic building’s original purpose.