Hollywood Plaza Cinema

The Hollywood Plaza Cinema is an independent cinema in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, on the eastern coast of Northern England. It is associated with a building that opened in 1914 as Scarborough's first purpose-built public cinema, originally known as the North Bay Picturehouse. Situated atop a low cliff side overlooking the North Bay, the venue has survived for more than a century, passing through periods as a cinema and other uses before returning to film exhibition in the late 1970s. Today it operates as a small, characterful local cinema showing blockbuster films, new releases, timeless classics and occasional live events, music and theatre-style presentations. It is known for a nostalgic, personal atmosphere, affordable pricing and family-friendly deals, and it accepts both online bookings and in-person payment by cash or card. The cinema also has plans to reopen an adjacent mini cafe and to add in-house live entertainment and mini shows. As a small regional venue, it positions itself as a friendly, comfortable, safe and atmospheric alternative to multiplexes, and it remains a local landmark on Scarborough's North Bay.

The Hollywood Plaza Cinema is tied to a building that opened in 1914 as Scarborough's first purpose-built public cinema, originally called the North Bay Picturehouse. Scarborough, a spa town on the eastern coastline of Northern England, was then a rather exclusive resort, and the picturehouse was built atop a low cliff side overlooking the sea across the town's North Bay. In its early years it showed black-and-white silent films. As silent cinema gave way to new formats and audience habits changed, the building could not continue purely as a picturehouse; over the following decades it served other purposes, including a period as a garage. It returned to use as a cinema in the late 1970s. Surviving as a small regional cinema proved difficult, but the venue persisted. In its later incarnation it was renamed the North Bay Playhouse in honour of the original North Bay Picturehouse, and it was reborn with a new presentation. It continued to be the town's first port of call for blockbuster films and new releases while adding a little theatre, live in-house entertainment and mini shows, and it announced hopes to reopen an adjacent mini cafe offering better choices than standard multiplex snack fare. The cinema has emphasised friendly, comfortable, safe and atmospheric experiences, keeping prices down and family deal pricing as affordable as possible. The Hollywood Plaza Cinema name is associated with this historic Scarborough cinema site, which remains active and continues to programme films and events.

• 1970

  After years of other uses, including as a garage, the building returned to use as a cinema in the late 1970s.

• 1914

  Opened as Scarborough's first purpose-built public cinema, originally called the North Bay Picturehouse.

• Renamed the North Bay Playhouse in honour of the original North Bay Picturehouse and reborn with a new presentation.

• Announced plans to reopen an adjacent mini cafe and add live in-house entertainment and mini shows.

A small, nostalgic independent cinema offering an atmospheric, affordable and friendly alternative to multiplexes, rooted in Scarborough's North Bay.

• Blockbuster and new-release film screenings

• Timeless classic films

• Live events and music

• Theatre-style presentations

• Family ticket deals

1. 1North Bay Playhousenorthbayplayhouse.co.uk
2. 2About usnorthbayplayhouse.co.uk
3. 3Hollywood Plaza Cinemawikidata.org