The Lost Cinemas Picture East 2025

East London has always been a place of stories — not just the ones we tell, but the ones we share and experience together. For decades, its cinemas were more than venues; they were vibrant cultural landmarks, buzzing with the energy of diverse communities coming together to laugh, cry, and be inspired. From the glittering lights of Stratford East Picturehouse to the vibrant colours of Boleyn Cinema, these spaces brought us joy and connection.

But over time, these cherished cinemas have closed their doors, leaving East London’s cultural landscape quieter and with fewer places to gather and experience cinema as a shared moment. We are determined to bring this magic back to East London with the PictureEast Film Festival in Newham.

We are here to celebrate the past and reignite the future of cinema in our borough. Newham, once home to a rich tapestry of screening venues, now faces a scarcity of spaces to experience non-mainstream and independent films. This festival is an ode to the cinemas we’ve lost, a love letter to the communities they inspired, and a commitment to creating new memories and cinematic journeys.

Showcase Beckton

Opened in 1997, Showcase Beckton was a sleek, modern cinema with its sweeping glass façade and iconic towers. Nestled just off the A13, it quickly became a hub for East Londoners, offering everything from family blockbusters like The Lion King to epic franchises like Harry Potter. Its sprawling grounds became a popular destination, home to restaurants and entertainment spots that made it a favourite for families and friends alike.

When Showcase Beckton closed in 2022, it marked the end of an era. The cinema was demolished to make way for an Amazon distribution depot, leaving many locals mourning the loss of a space that had brought so much joy.

Stratford Picturehouse East

Built in 1997 and praised for its minimalist, urban design, Stratford East Picturehouse was a cultural cornerstone in Stratford’s rapidly changing landscape. It didn’t just show films; it showcased the diversity of cinema itself, from Oscar winners like TÁR to unique events like the UK Asian Film Festival and Sci-Fi London.

For nearly 25 years, Stratford Picturehouse gave East Londoners a space to explore both mainstream hits and hidden gems. But in 2024, the cinema shut its doors, leaving a significant gap in Newham’s cultural scene. For many, its loss wasn’t just the end of a cinema- it was the end of a meeting place, a home for the arts.

Boleyn Cinema

The Boleyn Cinema carried over a century of history. Originally opening as the Boleyn Electric Theatre in 1910, it was rebuilt in 1938 as an Art Deco marvel by architect Andrew Mather who also designed over 38 Odeon Cinemas in the UK including the Leicester Square branch. Initially an Odeon cinema, it later became a beloved hub for Bollywood films, serving East London’s South Asian community with classics in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and more.

From its charming posters to its warm, family-friendly atmosphere, the Boleyn Cinema was more than a venue- it was a cultural bridge. After decades of joy, it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, leaving behind memories of packed houses and shared laughter.

The Albert Cinema

One of East London’s earliest cinemas, The Albert Cinema opened in 1912 as the Sweetingham Cinema, just six years after the first feature-length film, The Story of the Kelly Gang, was shown in the UK. As a silent film venue accompanied by music often by live orchestras and bands. It became a beloved gathering place for working-class locals, offering live musical accompaniment to films, from pianists to full orchestras.

Over the years, it became a cherished haunt for local working-class families, showing classics such as Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid (1921). Chaplin also had his own connection to East London, famously visiting nearby Canning Town in 1931 to meet Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, who was staying in the borough during his trip to London for the Round Table Conference. 

By the 1930s, as grander cinemas like Odeon took the spotlight, The Albert slowly faded. It closed in 1938, but its legacy of community spirit and cinematic wonder lives on in stories passed down through generations.

REBUILDING THE MAGIC OF CINEMA WITH PICTUREEAST FILM FESTIVAL

The loss of these cinemas isn’t just about buildings; it’s about the memories we made in them, the family outings, celebrations and the moments of awe and inspiration. With fewer options to experience the magic of cinema in East London, residents must travel far to find what they once had nearby.

Through the PictureEast Film Festival, we aim to bring exciting and inspiring films back to Newham and beyond, celebrating both the rich history of our lost cinemas and the bright future of storytelling on screen.

This festival is more than a showcase of films. It’s a revival of what we once had and a chance to create something even greater - a place where communities gather, stories are shared, and memories are made. Together, let’s bring quality cinema to our screens in East London.