Night at the Movies

That moment before the film begins, when the lights dim and people hush, shifting from conversation to the silence of anticipation. And you sit in the darkness, waiting, waiting for the magic to happen, for the screen to light up and transportyou to a new story that’s been waiting to unfold. 

This collection showcases the architecture of two landmark cinemas: The Scotsman Picture House in the heart of Edinburgh, and the Regent Street Cinema in the heart of London. Both buildings reflect a period in cinema’s history that feels very distant from the modern multiplex; a time when movies were an experience to treasure. The communal experience of watching a film for the first time and of dreaming someone else’s story.

Sink into the red velvet seating of The Scotsman Picture House, which is nestled deep within the landmark Scotsman Hotel on North Bridge, or explore the restored Art Deco elegance of Regent Street Cinema, which is known as the ‘Birthplace of British Cinema’ having opened in 1848, and hosted the first ever screening of moving pictures in the UK.