CONSTRUCTION has begun to refurbish the iconic Filmhouse cinema in Edinburgh, as pictures reveal its swanky new look.
Clark Contracts have been appointed to transform the cinema on Lothian Road, after it was forced to close in 2022.
A public crowdfunder to open the doors raised over £300,000 and was supported by Scots celebrities such as Alan Cumming and Brian Cox.
A timeline revealed last month shows that we can expect the cinema to reopen by June this year.
The converted B-listed church building had been showing arthouse films and mainstream titles since 1979, and became part of the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) in 2010.
It was forced to close after the CMI went into administration in 2022, also resulting in the closure of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
The loss of the much-loved staple of Scottish culture resulted in the Open The Doors campaign, which raised hundreds of thousands of pounds and will be used alongside investment from building owners Caledonian Heritable and a £1.5m grant from the UK Government.
Now, work is underway to upgrade the cinema, providing plush new seating, enhanced leg room and improved sightlines in all three screens.
The cinema will also see the addition of a fourth screen, meaning a larger capacity and wider variety of films available to view.
As well as ensuring the accessibility of the building, Clark Contracts will work on acoustics, heating, and ventilation in the screens, as well as refurbishing the café-bar to increase space and light in the area.
As Edinburgh aims to stay on track with its net zero goals, the Filmhouse is prioritising the energy efficiency of the building in its redevelopment.
A 25-year lease has been signed with plans to open as a stand-alone entity, and 40 new jobs are expected to be created when the cinema reopens.
Ginnie Atkinson, chair of Filmhouse said “We are delighted to be working with Clark Contracts on this project.
“Our experience with the team is very positive and it is exciting to see the plans on paper become a reality with changes happening on a daily basis.
“We are looking forward to opening again in the summer.”
Gerry Cummins, director at Clark Contracts, added: “We are excited to be delivering this project to bring the Filmhouse Cinema back to life, we look forward to working with Filmhouse and the design team to deliver the project which will provide a great facility for the public.”
