One of the north coast's most iconic cinemas has been given a new lease of life and is ready to welcome back film lovers and those in search of nostalgia.
The Playhouse Cinema on Main Street Portrush was once a popular destination for locals and holidaymakers alike looking for something to do when the typical NI weather would ruin a sunny day. After a major restoration, project owner Kris Charteris is excited to welcome back the movie magic.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Kris, who also owns Kiwis Brew Bar beside The Playhouse, said there has always been an interest in the old cinema since he began operating the bar. Originally from New Zealand, he has been serving the people of Portrush with craft beer and good craic for over a decade.
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Kris said: "I arrived in Northern Ireland about 21 years ago now and we started Kiwis in our previous location around 13 years ago and we've been in our current location at The Playhouse for eight and a half years now. We've been slowly but surely doing the place up where we can over the last few years.
"With Covid and lockdown, we had a bit more time to make the bar bigger and do up different areas - we've built a pizzeria and new cocktail bar which is going to service the cinema as well which has just been renovated. It's been a process of starting at the ground and working our way up."
The Playhouse was opened in 1939 as The Majestic Cinema and was called an "important addition to Portrush Attractions". The 792-seater Art Deco cinema was initially operated by an independent operator before being taken over by the Curran Theatres chain.
After closing in 1970, it was reopened a handful of years later as The Playhouse and stopped being operated as a commercial cinema in 2008 after Movie House Cinemas closed in the space.
Kris continued: "We've been using the cinema since we opened the bar up until January of this year, holding large sporting events as well as a lot of local surf movies and we would have a big following for that. The Portrush Film Theatre group has been using the space one or two times a month for the last five years.
"It was one of those rooms that was absolutely freezing all the time though so it was very hard to use - the coldest room in Northern Ireland I'd say. We've put a lot of money and effort in with new walls, insulation and a new heating system so that we will be able to use it year-round."
Kris and his team had hoped to have it open for summer but to ensure it was perfect for the public, the renovation took it took a bit longer but The Playhouse is currently preparing to open up for Halloween weekend with a host of spooky cult classics to celebrate the upgrade.
"We will try to have films running every Friday and Saturday if there isn't large sporting events on," he added.
Kris says it is "very cool" to revive a special part of north coast history as he has heard many a story while operating Kiwis from those who have fond memories of attending the cinema in their youth.
"Even before we had done it up, people would visit Kiwis and want to know if the cinema is still there so you'd take them up and show them around and everyone was amazed. Even in the last number of weeks, the people coming just to have a look and remember what it was like as a kid coming to watch movies has been really exciting."
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