Broadway cinema set for historic revival in Prestwick as community space

An iconic Prestwick cinema is to be reborn next month as part of an ambitious community project.

The Broadway at the heart of the town's Main Street will be brought back to life as a hub for locals.

Groups and individuals will be granted access to the building's ground floor when it reopens.

Friends of the Broadway, the team behind the revival bid, have joined forces with the building's owners Buzzworks Holdings to make the project possible.

The team are ready to revive the famous building (JDLamont.co.uk)

Renovations are set to begin thanks to funding from South Ayrshire Council's shop front improvement scheme and local company Spraytech working on the building.

The Broadway's two front rooms, last used for an amusement arcade and snooker hall, will be transformed to hold events for the community, and to offer space to hire.

The original cinema space at the rear of the building – last used in 1975 – will remain out of action, but pop-up cinema events are set to be held over the summer.

Stuart Cairns, of Friends of the Broadway Prestwick, said: "This is an exciting step forward with the project to bring the Broadway back to life and into community ownership.

"Our aims remain to bring the Broadway to life as a community space that has cinema at its heart but encompasses inclusivity for all in the Prestwick community creating a space that can be use by all ages.

"With the support of Buzzworks we look forward to being able to welcome the residents of Prestwick to the building soon.”

The Broadway became an entertainment arcade in its later days, as seen in this picture from 1983 (Ayrshire Post)

Buzzworks chairman Colin Blair added: “Prestwick has a community spirit to be proud of and The Broadway is an excellent asset for locals and visitors alike.

"It’s great to see renovations resume at the building to maximise opportunities for this multi-use space and we’re proud to continue our support of the project.”

Scottish architects Page/Park are supporting on the project and their spokesperson, Eilidh Henderson, said: “The Broadway Prestwick offers huge potential to support the rebuilding of the cultural community and to become a vital hub for the town.

"We’re excited to be supporting in the efforts to open up this treasured building, and to bring film and friends – new and old – together again.”

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