Fresh hope for Woolton Picture House as deal struck for sale

Woolton Picture House could be reopened as a cinema once again after a deal was agreed to buy the building for the community.

The historic picture palace closed its doors during the Covid pandemic, and despite a well-supported GoFundMe campaign and a grant from the Culture Recovery Fund, over the last five doors its doors have remained shut.

Now it’s hoped the 98-year-old venue will be given a new lease of life thanks to Kevin Fearon and Gill Miller – the husband-and-wife team behind Liverpool’s Royal Court – who have agreed the purchase of the Mason Street landmark with the current owner.

The Picture House project is completely separate to the theatre and its running.

The couple, who live locally, have set up a Community Interest Company (CIC) to run the site and this summer are set to launch a widescale public consultation along with a major fundraising campaign to foot the £450,000 bill to buy the Picture House along with a further £250,000 to restore and reopen it as a working cinema again.

They have until next April to reach the combined £700,000 target, with Fearon saying today that the couple will not risk the public’s donations by securing enough money to buy the property without also having the funding in place to fully restore it.

An initial £25,000 toward the target has come from money donated to the GoFundMe campaign after the pandemic.

The couple have paid the deposit themselves, with Fearon explaining: “It’s a huge risk. But we were walking past it, thinking ‘this is what we’ve done at the Royal Court. If we don’t try and do something with this, who would?’ So, it’s an opportunity for everyone to say yes, we want this cinema, and we’ll do a fundraising campaign both to the public but also to institutions and others.

Above: The auditorium at Woolton Picture House.

“The end goal is a great idea. Everyone we’ve spoken to is excited by it. And it might never work – but we don’t believe that. That’s why we’ve exchanged contracts to control the building.

“We had a meeting last night with some people who knew about it and that group will only grow. This isn’t about me and Gill after today it’s about everyone else who wants to turn it into a thriving cinema for the community.

“There’s a lot to do and those plans will be formulated over the next few weeks and months.

“You don’t know until to you do it. It’s a gut feeling that it’s the right thing to do and we both felt that quite strongly.”

Work needed on the building, which was originally opened in 1927 and is the oldest remaining cinema in the city, includes repairs to the roof and external walls, upgrading electrics, projection equipment, the building’s boiler and toilet facilities, and the installation of a fire alarm system.

Above: In the foyer of the cinema.

In a statement today, the current owner added: “Woolton Picture House has always been more than just a building - it’s been a gathering place, a memory-maker, and a part of our community’s heart. As we pass it on to Kevin and Gillian who share the same passion and commitment to preserving its legacy, we do so with great optimism for what’s ahead. We are confident in their vision to carry the legacy forward and are excited for the cinema’s next chapter.

“We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported the GoFundMe campaign - your contributions were instrumental in helping the cinema navigate the early stages of a very challenging period. Your generous GoFundMe donation will go on to form the initial contribution of £25,000 to the cinema's new fundraising campaign, as it moves forward under its new stewardship.

“Thank you all once again for being part of this journey and for your ongoing support. We’re excited for this new chapter in the life of the Woolton Picture House, knowing it’s in safe hands for the generations to come.”