Film has always been more than just entertainment, it’s a shared experience that can bring people together, spark conversations, and create a sense of belonging. At Eastside Community Trust, we’re excited to be reviving this tradition by hosting regular film screenings at Easton Community Centre.
Cinema’s Golden Age in Bristol
The 1920s and 1930s marked the golden age of cinema in Bristol. At least 40 cinemas were built across the city by 1939, offering around 14,000 seats, enough for one in every 30 Bristolians. The grandest of them all was the Regent formerly between Old Market and the City Centre, designed by local architect William Henry Watkins and opened in 1928. With space for over 2,000 people, a lavishly decorated dome, and even a 120ft lounge serving the famous Regent Special Tea, cinema was not just a pastime but a cultural event.
Regent Cinema (1928-1940)
Going to the cinema was the main form of entertainment, particularly for young people, and it provided a much-needed social hub. The arrival of the first movies with sound only boosted cinema’s popularity, making film-going one of the most accessible and exciting cultural experiences of the time.
But this golden age came to an abrupt and tragic end. On Sunday 24 November 1940, during the Bristol Blitz, the Regent was destroyed by bombing. What had once been Bristol’s grandest picture palace was later demolished, symbolising the end of that era of cinema building on such a scale.
The Decline of the Big Screen
Fast forward to today, and the picture looks very different. Large cinema chains are struggling, with many venues closing their doors since the pandemic. Rising ticket prices, competition from streaming services, and the changing ways people socialise have all played a part. What was once a vibrant part of Bristol’s cultural fabric has become increasingly out of reach for many.
The Future is Local
This is where community screenings step in. At Eastside Community Trust, we believe the future of cinema is small, independent, and deeply rooted in the communities it serves. Bringing film into spaces like Easton Community Centre helps us recapture the magic of cinema, not in grand domes and glittering foyers, but in warm, welcoming spaces where people can connect, laugh, and reflect together.
Film screenings in community spaces combat loneliness, create opportunities for intergenerational connections, and open up conversations that matter. They are accessible, affordable, and flexible – meeting people where they are.
Easton Community Centre
Just around the corner from us, the Save Redfield Cinema campaign is another example of how strongly local people feel about protecting cinema heritage and keeping film alive in community hands. The grassroots campaign is fighting to revive one of the oldest surviving cinemas in the country, built in 1912 on Church Road in Redfield (BS5). Once an art deco picture house, it became a bingo hall in the 1960s and has been abandoned since the 1970s.
Nearly 10,000 people signed their petition to save it, and campaigners are now working with local partners, funders, and students to reimagine the building’s future as a vibrant community space. Their vision echoes our own: that the future of cinema lies not with faceless chains but in places that belong to local people and serve local needs.
What’s Coming Up at Easton Community Centre
We’ve got an exciting line-up of community film nights this autumn and winter:
BABYLON – Thursday 16 October
Book now at Headfirst
As part of Black History Month, Eastside Community Trust, in partnership with Creative Connex and DET Entertainment, presents Babylon – a landmark of British cinema. Released in 1980 and starring Brinsley Forde (of reggae band Aswad), the film follows Blue, a talented DJ in Brixton’s vibrant sound system scene. With its thumping reggae soundtrack and raw authenticity, Babylon captures the energy, creativity and camaraderie of a community under pressure, while confronting the racism and social tensions of the era.
CRIP CAMP – Thursday 13 November
Book now at Headfirst
Eastside Community Trust, in partnership with BDEF (Bristol Disability Equality Forum), is proud to present Crip Camp (2020) – a Sundance-winning documentary produced by Barack and Michelle Obama. The film begins at a unique summer camp for disabled teenagers in upstate New York during the early 1970s. What starts as a place of fun, freedom and solidarity soon sparks a powerful wave of activism, as many of the campers go on to become trailblazers in the US disability rights movement.
ELF – Sunday 7 December
Booking available soon
A festive family screening to celebrate Christmas together.
Each of these events is more than just a film night, they’re opportunities to connect, reflect, and celebrate Bristol’s diversity.
Join Us in Bringing Cinema Home
The grand picture houses of the 1920s may be gone, but the spirit of cinema is alive and well in our communities. By gathering to watch films together, we’re keeping alive that rich tradition of shared storytelling, and shaping the future of cinema to be local, accessible, and inclusive.
Come along, bring a friend, and be part of the new golden age of community cinema in East Bristol.
