Premiere set for historic cinema

The newly restored building will seat 178 cinema-goers

The £2m revamp of Scotland's first purpose-built cinema - the Bo'ness Hippodrome - has been completed.

The A-listed cinema, regarded as an excellent example of pre-art deco architecture, last showed a film over 30 years ago, in 1975.

The first film to be shown will be a special screening of Mamma Mia tonight.

The historic building in Bo'ness will reopen some 97 years after its first customers sat in its uniquely designed, round cinema.

The Hippodrome, which was the vision of local film-maker Louis Dickson and designed by renowned Scottish architect Matthew Steele, opened on 11 March 1912.

Councillor Adrian Mahoney, the convener of leisure, tourism and community at Falkirk Council, said: "Local people will be at the very heart of the launch celebrations - after all, they've waited a long time for the Hippodrome to re-open.

"The building stopped showing movies in 1975 and finally closed after a spell as a bingo hall in 1980.

Many people saw it as a something of an eyesore. Thankfully, others also saw the potential for it to be saved Councillor Adrian Mahoney

"The structure fell into disrepair and many people saw it as a something of an eyesore.

"Thankfully, others also saw the potential for it to be saved and fully restored.

"We've used the colour scheme when the building was remodelled in the 1920s.

"I hope the revamped building will be a great success - and a real asset to the many attractions we have in the Falkirk area."

The cinema originally could hold 510 people crammed into the distinctive round movie theatre's stalls and 215 squeezed into the balcony.

Now, 178 customers will be seated in comfort in The Hippodrome's restored interior.

The restoration programme has seen extensive works undertaken, both inside and out, including the installation of new seating and repair and reupholstering of some old seats; reinstatement of the 1926 decorative scheme and repair of the original copper dome above the manager's office.

The cinema closed after a spell as a bingo hall in 1980

The exterior and interior of the building were refurbished including the re-harling of the distinctive white exterior and re-roofing of the cinema.

The Hippodrome redevelopment forms a central part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative to restore significant buildings within the attractive historical town centre of Bo'ness.

The Hippodrome is owned by Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, which undertook the first phase of restoration, and is now leased to Falkirk Council.

The architects for the restoration project are Linlithgow based Pollock Hammond Partnership.

The £1.95m initial restoration programme was funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund, Falkirk Council through the Townscape Heritage Initiative, Historic Scotland, the Architectural Heritage Fund, Falkirk Environment Trust and the Manifold Trust.

The £200k technical fit-out has been funded by Falkirk Council with support from The National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council.