Alhambra Cinema
St. John Street,
Keswick,
CA12 5AG
St. John Street,
Keswick,
CA12 5AG
6 people
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One of my favourite cinemas in which to see a film, the Keswick Alhambra has been entertaining audiences since around 1913. Until the mid-1980’s it was still lit by gas.
Wonderful ornate red brick facade with Edwardian swags of fruit decorating the two story building.
Inside the screen has been brought forward to accommodate Cinemascope but the traditional stalls and single balcony remains with decorative bands across the flattened barrel vault ceiling.
Often threatened with closure, the Alhambra keeps surviving and has been updated with new seating and Dolby stereo. A film society arranges vintage/classic screenings on selected dates through the winter months.
Now run by the small Cumbrian circuit of Graves & Son. If you visit the Lake District a visit to the Alhambra is a must!
Contributed by
Ian Grundy
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The original seating capacity of the Alhambra Cinema was 600.
The cinema is now operated by R. J. Towers & Partners on a ten-year lease.
It has been refurbished with new seating and Dolby Digital sound.
New photos from 2006 can be seen on
www.keswick-alhambra.co.uk
An old image from 1973 here:
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Three more images (including interiors) here, from 1997:–
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A 1978 view here:–
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There’s an amazing Cinema of the same name at Penrith, Cumbria. It’s a very friendly and welcoming venue which I highly recommend.
They still run Fedi XT (70/35mm) projector in their biggest screen.
Ampex175; The Lonsdale Alhambra Cinema, Penrith has its own page on Cinema Treasures: /theaters/23497/
I can remember seeing a film around 1973/4 with my family..
at the Alhambra and to my astonishment had gas lighting !!!!
I saw a film here in the early 70s (cannot remember what) and was surprised both by the auditorium gas lights and the oversize seats at the end of rows (known as courting seats?) or am I thinking of somewhere else?