Plans to reopen city's oldest cinema revealed

The Woolton Picture House on Mason Street first opened in December 1927

Plans to reopen Liverpool's oldest cinema have been revealed.

Woolton Picture House, which first opened its doors in December 1927, has been closed for the last five years since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kevin Fearon and Gillian Miller, who run the Liverpool Royal Court theatre, said they hoped to raise the £700,000 needed to buy the building on Mason Street and redevelop it into a community venue "with a cinema at its heart".

"It is Liverpool's oldest surviving cinema so we don't want to lose that," added Mr Fearon.

Kevin Fearon says Woolton Picture House is "special"

He said he wanted local people to have their say about the future of the historic venue.

"Many people have memories of going there with family and friends to watch films so we need to bring that back," explained Mr Fearon.

"It's a great space in the heart of the community.

"It should be a shared vision."

He said previous owners of the building had secured planning permission to transform the venue, including by adding a new roof and improving accessibility.

Mr Fearon said £450,000 was needed to buy the building, with a further £250,000 required for refurbishment work.

He said he hoped a combination of public donations, fundraising efforts and Heritage Lottery funding would help him to realise his dream of reopening the cinema.