Gate Cinema
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gate Cinema is a Grade II listed cinema in Notting Hill Gate, London W11.[1] Since 2003 it has been operated by Picturehouse Cinemas.[2]
It opened in April 1911 as the Electric Palace with capacity for 480,[2] having been converted by William Hancock from an 1861 restaurant.[1] The cinema was taken over by Capitol & Provincial News Theatres who later renamed it The Embassy.[3][2] Capitol & Provincial News Theatres became Classic Cinemas and the cinema was renamed Classic Cinema in 1957.[3] The building was damaged during the Blitz and the replacement exterior was much plainer.[2] In 1962 the foyer was rebuilt by Douton and Hurst.[1]
The cinema was renamed The Gate in 1974 following the demise of Classic Cinemas and was operated by Cinegate.[2][3] It closed in 1985.[3] In 1986, it was acquired by the newly formed Oasis Cinemas Group, a division of the Island Group owned by PolyGram, and reopened.[4] Oasis later purchased The Cameo, Edinburgh and, in 1991, the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton.[4]
The Gate Cinema was Grade II listed by English Heritage in 2000 as part of a wave of cinema building listings, largely for the mostly unaltered auditorium and its "exceptionally lavish Edwardian baroque plaster decoration".[1][5] After being take over by Picturehouse Cinemas in 2003, it was refurbished in 2004 and again in 2024.[2][6]
