Paignton's historic Picture House gets £675,000 funding boost as regeneration plans are unveiled for Palace Theatre

Plans to restore Paignton’s historic Picture House to its former glory have been given a £675,000 New Year funding boost.

Meanwhile at the other end of town, a £650,000 bid has gone into the Arts Council to help kick-start major improvements in the New Year to another of the town’s historic gems, the Palace Theatre.

Paignton Picture House has been awarded £675,246 from Historic England to carry out works to restore the historic fabric of the Grade II* listed cinema. 

Julian Carnell, Trustee of the Paignton Picture House Trust, said: “It is fantastic news that Historic England has chosen to support Paignton Picture House with a very significant grant which will further enable us to restore and repair this historic building in the heart of Paignton, transforming it into a vibrant cultural space serving the local community and contributing to the regeneration of the town." 

Maureen McAllister, director of the Jazz Hands Community Interest Company which manages the Palace, said: "Whether our bid is successful or not, the Palace Theatre is on a mission to become Torbay's go-to cultural hotspot with creativity centre stage.”

The Picture House funding will protect fragile historic features and stabilise the building, marking a major step towards reopening the site as a heritage-led cultural venue.

This latest grant brings Historic England’s total investment to over £940,000 since the cinema was added to the Heritage at Risk Register in 2013. 

Opened in 1914, Paignton Picture House is famously associated with Agatha Christie, who was a regular visitor. It is one of Europe’s oldest purpose-built cinemas.

This funding builds on significant investment already secured from multiple national partners and donors, enabling restoration work that is already well underway.  

The Picture House is expected to reopen in September 2026. 

Jazz Hands, a not-for-profit CIC, aims to transform the Palace Theatre into another vibrant and accessible cultural hub. 

Since taking over management in 2018, Jazz Hands has successfully navigated challenges, including the impacts of the Covid pandemic. In 2024 it achieved the remarkable milestone of selling over 40,000 tickets. 

Director Maureen McAllister, said: “We have already enjoyed success with more events, bigger audiences, tremendous loyalty, and many creative and innovative approaches to running this gem of a venue in the heart of Paignton. 

“We are now looking to the future, and need investment and development firmly focused on the years and decades to come.”

The Palace funding application focuses on Phase One of the transformation, primarily targeting its Stage Left multi-use event space, which can accommodate up to 120 people. The planned enhancements in the project, which will cost £750,000, overall,  include:

• A new entrance foyer with full disabled access, replacing the current limited access that relies on portable ramps and lacks a disabled restroom.
• Critical roof repairs to ensure the safety and longevity of the venue.
• Enhanced technical facilities to support a broader range of cultural activities, such as workshops, exhibitions, and performances, including theatre-in-the-round.
• Sustainability measures aimed at improving operational efficiency.
• Accessible creative spaces to support local cultural organizations and emerging talent, featuring rehearsal spaces, meeting rooms, and creative studios.

Maureen underlined the theatre’s long term commitment to the local community and added: “This is a real opportunity to transform this historic venue into a vibrant gathering place where everyone can enjoy and participate in the arts.”

She said the theatre’s most immediate focus was on delivering another fabulous pantomime, celebrating the 90th year for Paignton Pantomime Productions on their stage. 

She added: “We anticipate knowing the outcome of our funding application in March 2026, and we are hopeful that this investment will significantly enhance our offerings and community engagement."

She said Jazz Hands CIC invites the community to support this initiative as it strives to create a dynamic environment that fosters creativity, inclusivity, and engagement in the arts. She said the Palace Theatre is dedicated to serving as a cultural beacon in Torbay, offering a diverse range of performances and activities that cater to all members of the community.

It was first opened in 1890 as the Paignton Public Hall.

Paignton Picture House is famously associated with Agatha Christie, who was a regular visitor and is believed to have watched adaptations of her novels from the balcony. 

Since its closure in 1999, extensive plans have been developed to restore and reimagine the building as a vibrant hub for film, arts, and community activity, while preserving its distinctive architectural features and historic character. 

Rebecca Barrett, South West Regional Director at Historic England, said: “We’re delighted to give one of our largest grants this year to the continuing transformation of Paignton Picture House. It’s another big step towards its future as a thriving cultural hub for the community in Torbay and the wider region.”