The near £3m required to redevelop one of Scotland's oldest cinemas has almost been raised after Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) announced its £300,000 investment in Campbeltown's Picture House.

 

The A listed building was established in 1913 on the seafront in the heart of the town on the Kintyre Peninsula. It was the oldest purpose- built cinema still fully functioning in Scotland until the Hippodrome in Bo'ness reopened in 2009. Even on the international stage, the Picture House has a record matched by few. The oldest cinema, The Lumiere in Pisa, opened just eight years earlier.

The £2.8m Centenary Project project to upgrade he building in the Argyll town, is designed to give it a new lease of life.

The HIE investment brings the total confirmed funding to just over £2.7million, with decisions on the additional £100,000 required, due in the next month or so.

It is owned by Campbeltown Community Business Ltd (CCB), a social enterprise committed to transforming the cinema into the principal cultural and entertainment venue for Kintyre.

Jane Mayo, chair of CCB, welcomed the announcement. She said: "This investment brings us so close to achieving the total needed for the Centenary Project. The community has supported this cinema for over a century and is looking forward to having its precious building restored and enhanced to give it a bright, sustainable future as a cultural hub for Kintyre. We are looking forward to offering a programme that will appeal to the local community and visitors to the area. CCB is extremely grateful for the important ongoing support of HIE and we are working to secure the remainder of the funding to enable work to start on this fabulous project."

She said CCB planned to offer a programme of film, event cinema and occasional live music and theatre performances that would appeal to residents and visitors alike. The upgrade will retain the charm and history of the building and combined with modern and comfortable facilities.

It was announced in December the Campbeltown project would receive £1.1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.