Aberdeen’s independent cinema has secured National Lottery funding and a realistic reopening date.
This is the news we’ve been waiting for. The Belmont Cinema has landed £1.5 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as reported in the Press and Journal. After more than two years of uncertainty since the sudden closure in October 2022, there’s finally a realistic timeline: late 2027.
Aberdeen has been without an independent cinema since the Belmont shut its doors. That’s meant fewer opportunities to see older films, international cinema, documentaries, and anything that doesn’t fit into multiplex schedules. It’s also meant losing a cultural space that hosted festivals, special screenings, and community events.
Would you like to see your message here? Let's talk.
POST highlights Aberdeen’s creative scene, from theatre and music to visual arts. We focus on showcasing the city’s unique talent and supporting local voices.
Through stories, artist profiles, and event coverage, we’re here to share what makes Aberdeen vibrant. Sign up for free or support us and go ad-free for just £3 a month.
How the funding breaks down
The funding arrives in two stages. An initial £87,438 will fund development work over the next 12 to 18 months, with a further £1,412,562 following if that phase succeeds. Combined with existing support from Aberdeen City Council and Screen Scotland, this takes the cinema much closer to its £3.6 million target.
Matt Buchanan, the Belmont’s chief executive, told the P&J that the award represents crucial progress. He credited fundraisers Gemma Cruickshank and Sarah Dingwall, plus community development manager Michelle Soto, for securing the breakthrough.
What happens during development
The team will hire a heritage project manager to shape programming based on community input. They’ll also tender for architects to finalise designs before building work starts in 2027.
Film fans will be pleased to heard that the lottery funding specifically protects 35mm and 70mm projection, keeping traditional film skills and presentation methods alive in the city. Beyond movies, the reopened Belmont will host live music, streamed theatre, ballet and opera.
What it means for Aberdeen
Jacob Campbell, chair of the board of trustees, wants to hear from people about what they’d like to see when doors reopen. The 600 people who turned up for Christmas screenings showed there’s appetite for the Belmont’s return.
After years of campaigns and fundraising, the path forward is clearer than it’s been since 2022. There’s still work to do and more money to raise, but this is the first breakthrough that makes reopening feel achievable rather than aspirational. We’ll be tracking progress and sharing updates as things move forward.
