New £100,000 Grant Helps Open the Doors to Belmont’s Next Chapter
Funding will transform the cinema’s entrance into a brighter, inviting, more accessible space.
The Belmont Cinema has secured a major boost in its journey back to life, with £100,000 now committed to revitalising the building’s entrance, lobby and kiosk. The funding comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, administered by Aberdeen City Council, and will help transform the front-of-house into a brighter, more accessible and welcoming space.
As anyone who’s ever been to the cinema knows, it’s the entrance that sets the tone. A great cinema starts before you even take your seat. For POST, this investment feels like a crucial moment, shaping how people experience the venue from the very first step inside.
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A More Welcoming First Step
Belmont Community Cinema, the charity leading the reopening, says the changes are about more than just fixing up a building. “This money will allow us to make improvements that make the cinema more accessible and welcoming,” said Chief Executive Matt Buchanan. “Taking us closer to returning it to public use, not as a commercial chain that treats its customers like numbers on a spreadsheet, but as a cultural space that puts the people of Aberdeen at its heart.”
The grant will support design work to open up the lobby, improve wayfinding and enhance access for families and disabled visitors. It will also help generate income through in-venue spending, which is crucial to the long-term success of a charity-led cinema model.
Backed by the Community
Jacob Campbell, Chair of the Belmont board, highlighted how much local support has meant to the project so far. “This is a people-powered project. The support from people, businesses and Aberdeen City Council has been nothing short of incredible. This funding helps us take another big step forward.”
Closed since 2022, the Belmont is expected to welcome 100,000 visitors annually once it reopens. The goal is a venue rooted in Aberdeen’s cultural life, offering diverse films, creative partnerships and educational opportunities, all within a community-led, independent space.
To follow progress or lend your support, visit belmontcinema.org.uk.
