Cottage Road Cinema first opened its doors as Headingley Picture House on 29th July 1912 and we’re incredibly proud to have been entertaining Headingley for over a century. We’re the oldest cinema in Leeds and possibly the oldest continuously operating independently owned cinema in the UK. While many cinemas of a similar age have experienced periods of closure over the years, we’re somewhat unique in that the only time we’ve ever had to close was during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The building wasn’t originally purpose-built as a cinema. It began life as a motor garage and assembly shop, built in 1905 for the nearby Castle Grove mansion. The garage was taken over by Owen Brooks who, alongside his motor business, was also a pioneering film cameraman producing short news films for audiences in Leeds. In 1912, Brooks joined forces with Reginald Smith and together they transformed the building into the Headingley Picture House.

The cinema was sold to Frank T. Thompson, of Golden Acre Park fame, in 1937 before being sold on just a year later to Associated Tower Cinemas. Following the closure of the Lounge Cinema in Headingley in January 2005, Cottage Road became the last surviving cinema of the once-extensive Associated Tower Cinemas group.

Cottage Road almost suffered the same fate. The cinema was due to close at the end of July 2005, in fact staff had already been issued with redundancy notices. Thankfully, in a last-minute deal, the cinema was saved when Charles Morris stepped in to take over our operation.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported Cottage Road Cinema over the last 114 years. Whether you’ve been visiting us for decades or have only recently discovered us, your support means the world to us. It’s because of you that we’re able to keep the projector running, the popcorn popping and this wonderful historic cinema alive for future generations.