The oldest working cinema in the UK is, well, working again, as Birmingham welcomes back the Electric Cinema.
There’s still a full tale to be told of all the arts venues that we lost during the assorted lockdowns of the last two years. In the West Midlands alone, the Artrix Arts Centre fell quickly, and whilst there are hopes of resurrecting it, it’s been deployed as a vaccination centre for much of the time since.
In the middle of Birmingham meanwhile sits the Electric Cinema, billed as the oldest cinemas in the UK. It first, in a previous guise – and heck, it’s been through many – opened its doors over 110 years ago. But whereas many venues finally reopened once lockdown restrictions had lifted, the Electric stayed dormant. Not a peep on its social media accounts, stories of staff being laid off too. And then the rise of a social media account called RethinkElectricBham, that told of unhappy tales behind the scenes. That account is still active, here.
Now though, a new era dawns. Last week, the cinema opened its doors for the first time in nearly two years, under brand new management. Kevin Markwick, who also owns Sussex’s Uckfield Picture House, has bought the venue, and along with his daughter – Katie – has got its doors back open.
Good morning Birmingham. Thanks for a great opening weekend. We feel the love.#birminghamlife #whatsonbirmingham #birminghamevents #independentbirmingham #brum #brumlife #independent #cinema #indiefilms #supportyourlocalcinema #35mmfilms #cinemalovers #lovecinema pic.twitter.com/kINE5RRpst
— The Electric Cinema (@ElectricBham) January 24, 2022
Projectors have had to be replaced, and the place has undergone a huge clean-up. But since Friday, the two-screen venue has been showing Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast and Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley, a pair of films that fit the Electric perfectly.
It’s reportedly taken a six figure investment to get the Electric back up in business, right down to new toilets being put in. But one of the most loved places to watch a film in Birmingham is now firmly back up and running. And the Electric’s legendary sofa seats have survived the new broom too.
Hopefully, the Artrix can come back to life next…
