Astra Cinema

Situated adjacent to the village of Kinloss, near Forres and about 30 miles east of Inverness, RAF Kinloss opened on 1 April 1939 as a training centre. After the war it was taken over by Coastal Command, and it became the main base for the RAF’s fleet of Nimrod MR.2 maritime patrol aircraft.

Following the cancellation of the planned replacement for the MR.2, announced in a strategic review published in October 2010, flying operations ceased on 31 July 2011.

In the November it was announced that 930 personnel from 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) would move from Waterbeach Barracks, near Cambridge, in summer 2012. On 26th July 2012 the RAF Ensign was lowered for the final time, and replaced by the flag of 39 Engineer Regiment, marking the establishment of Kinloss Barracks.

The airfield is, however, still maintained, as a relief landing site by Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4s from nearby RAF Lossiemouth.

The Astra Cinema is afforded a brief mention at scottishcinemas.org.uk but with no further information other than it probably had 150-200 seats. I could not find any other information, although the Cinema Theatre Association Archive does hold a programme from September 1963. This shows that, at least at that time, films were shown every evening, by the Royal Air Force Cinema Corporation. But it is not known when the Astra Cinema closed.

By the time I visited, in March 2025, the building was being used as the clubhouse for Kinloss Rugby Club.

(Although the rugby pitches are inside the base, this building is outside the perimeter, with public access down a narrow lane off Burghead Road.)

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