Could Prestwick's cinema reopen after decades shut?

A historic cinema which has been closed for 20 years could reopen, after a charity dedicated to its restoration secured a grant to purchase the building.

Friends of the Broadway have worked for nearly a decade on bringing back to life the once-thriving Art Deco building in Prestwick, Ayrshire.

Now a grant of £328,060 from the Scottsh Land Fund will allow the charity to buy the property and begin essential maintenance works.

The building last operated as a cinema in 1976 but it was later a leisure centre, which closed for the last time in 2003.

Prof Guy Walker, the charity's chairman, said it was a dream come true for local residents.

Friends of the Broadway said that as well as returning the cinema, it planned to create Scotland's first film museum.

"We aim to preserve not only the Broadway's history but the history of all cinemas across the country," a spokesman said.

Built in 1935, the Broadway Cinema showed films until the mid-60s before becoming a bingo hall then briefly returning as a cinema in 1973.

The building retains its original Art Deco features like the front wings that curve in to meet above wide entrance doors and original interiors.

It was designed by architect Alister Gladstone MacDonald, son of James Ramsay MacDonald, the UK’s first Labour prime minister.

After securing the grant to purchase the cinema, more money is now needed to restore it and preserve its original features, the charity said.

"Owning the building is the biggest leap in the project, now we can apply for more heritage funding to finish the project," said Kyle Macfarlane, director and trustee of the charity.

He said that the support by the local community has already been fantastic.

"But to finish the project, we'd love for more people to attend our events and follow our social medias to get more awareness for the cause," he added.

Outreach work is already underway with a pop-up cinema at local school, Prestwick Academy.

"This ensures our community can experience the magic of film once more, as we build our audience for the future," Mr Macfarlane said.

Since signing a lease from previous building owners, Buzzworks, the charity has held open days in the cinema's foyer to ask local people what they would like from the cinema.

"The Broadway will become a very special place to watch all types of film," said Mr Macfarlane

"We were delighted to discover that our original projectors are fully restorable to working condition," he added.

This means the finished Broadway will be able to show original 35mm films and the charity hopes to show modern 70mm film too.

The movement to bring back the Broadway first began more than 10 years ago.

The charity now has more than 400 members that contribute in decision-making.

Prof Walker said: “Bringing back the Broadway started as a dream held by a committed group of Prestwick residents.

"The building will be owned by the community, and we are ‘bringing the Broadway back’ for everyone who said they would love to see films here again," he said.

The area around the cinema's catchment is served by just one commercial cinema, according to the charity.

The Scottish Land Fund said it hoped the funding preserved the historic building, while creating an amenity for the community of Prestwick to enjoy for years to come.