Gate Picturehouse
87 Notting Hill Gate,
London,
W11 3JZ
87 Notting Hill Gate,
London,
W11 3JZ
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closed till late September for refurbishment
David and Barbara Stone bought the business in 1974 renaming it the Gate. More recently it was with the Oasis art-house chain but became part of the Picturehouse family in 2003. Martin Scorcese used the auditorium in his adventure “Hugo” and the cinema will also feature in the upcoming Paddington 2. In regards to the brothel, the hotel’s register often listed around 150 gentlemen a day for a mere 15 rooms which were rented by the hour.
I have just visited the Gate over Carnival and it brought back some happy memories. I was , between being Assistant and then Manager of the Classic Baker Street, Manager here in 1970. The entrance has changed – the chocolate shop is now a cafe-but the original classic film spool handles remain. So too are the display frames- one of which once had my name on it as ‘your host’ (somewhere I have a picture of me next to it in a very trendy suit). It was the only cinema to have daily late night screenings. Also an Indian film club on a Sunday Morning. Despite the best efforts of the projectionist the reels often arrived in poor condition and it was not unusual for them to be run out-of-sequence and if it was a particularly long movie missed out completely- to ensure the regular programme run on time. My belated apologies to those concerned!
Exterior photos from February 2009.
Hi, we’re looking to do some work to celebrate the Gate’s 101st this year. Any old photos/listings/clippings or stories would be much appreciated!
press ad from dec 1979 for late shows at The Gate (and the Gate Two – now the Curzon Renoir)
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You could not tell from the redone outside that this nice theatre was inside.Very cool looking.
It’s great to see this wonderful old cinema being talked about.
As The Gate’s ex (and last!) chief projectionist, I know the building inside out. I have lost sleep, blood, sweat and tears in that place but wouldnt change my time there for anything!
That photo reminds me of Le Ranelagh in Paris. Is there any relationship?
Visiting London, last Friday eve, I enjoyed “Lives with Others” with live Q & A with the German director. The sold out audience was thrilled with his interesting, entertaining answers.
Here’s a photo I took of the beautiful auditorium:
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Are there plans to keep it open for any other purpose other than for cinema?
A photograph of the exterior in October 2004:
http://flickr.com/photos/53257210@N00/115403658/
The beautiful Baroque style auditorium of the Edwardian era Gate Picturehouse:
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The Gate Cinema is now known as the Gate Picturehouse.
Hi Mel,
Ive got a full history of the Gate in photographs and logos and floor plans that i can email to you, also there are pictures online and a full history at
www.picturehouses.co.uk
I am currently writing a community history book on Notting Hill London and desparately need some pictures of the local cinamas, Can any one help? the older the better and personal pictures would be ideal, full acknowledgement will of course be given to donors.
Thanks
Mel
Dear Ken Roe:
Thank you. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The Gate Theatre looks a great deal like the Wheaton Grand inside. This is our most recent project. It is amazing that a well designed “theatre bar” can make the difference between a successful venue and one that fails. Please e-mail me at Look at our website to see the variety an old movie theatre can attain! www.wheatongrand.net Let’s chat some more.
Paul;
The Gate Theatre, located at 11 Pembridge Road, Notting Hill Gate is what is called in the UK a Fringe Theatre (in the USA/New York an Off Broadway Theatre).
It is a small space seating 120 in an upstairs room of the Prince Albert pub. I have just looked in the current listings magazine and it is not listed. Whether it is closed temporary or permanently, I don’t know? I just find it strange for a theatre not to have a show on around Christmas time.
Anyay, regarding your query about a ‘nice wood bar’ It will have a bar, beings it is basically a pub, but most likely its a ‘new one’ and not the original from the 1890’s when the pub was built, as these are pretty rare to find these days.
Cinema Treasures Webmasters;
Please make adjustments to the heading of the Gate Cinema, as per my posting May 20th 2004. This was never called the Imperial Playhouse.
The Gate Cinema has been named previously;
Electric Palace
Embassy
Classic Cinema
Thanks
Does the Gate Theatre have a nice wood bar? We are looking for a great design for a storefront bar next to the Wheaton Grand Theatre outside of Chicago. Ideas?
The listing should be for The Gate Cinema to avoid confussion (as there is a Gate Theatre nearby, that began upstairs above the cinema as a theatre club in 1951)
The gate is closing this sunday (1st Aug) for a four week period of restoration and refurbishment.
A state of the art air con system is being fitted into the grade II listed auditorium which will be very welcomed by regular customers, there will be new toilets, new seats with extended leg room, the capacity will be reduced from 240 to 186, with the rear seats being replaced by double love seats, there will also be new carpet and some repainting of the wall as well as a full cleaning of the plasterwork.
The lobby will be totally refitted with a new wood parquet floor and a new combined box office/bar with leather seating and a new chandelier light fitting (the current lobby dates from 1985 and has little historical merit)
Externally there will be a new canopy/marquee and new blade sign.
There will be photos of the building work on the official website.
The Gate was never known as the Imperial Playhouse, that was a name given in 1932 to the nearby 1910 built, Electric Cinema in Portobello Road. It currently operates again as the Electric.
The Gate building dates from 1861 when the ground floor room (currently the cinema) was known as the North End and Harvey Dining Room. In 1879 it became the Golden Bells Hotel and the ground floor became the Golden Bells Coffee Palace and Restaurant. Upstairs, the hotel operated as a brothel.
The ground floor was converted into a cinema, opening in April 1911 as the Electric Palace, seating was for 450. It was re-named Embassy in April 1931 and was primarly a news theatre with 314 seats. The elaberate domed entrance and facade were damaged by bombs during the war, but the cinema remained open and it wasn’t until the 1950’s that the current facade and office block was built. It was re-named Classic Cinema in 1957 screening classic Hollywood films. In September 1974, it was sold to Cinegate and re-named the Gate Cinema, closing in 1985 and re-opening in 1986 with Oasis Cinemas as the operators, currently under control of the PictureHouse Group
hi Chris, sorry my response was aimmed at michael, glad you like the gate
Woody, my comment was for Michael who seems to want to convert everything into a concert hall, or an opera house – hence my querying 350 seats. The Gate stems way back to my depraved youth and much time was spent there. I was delighted to hear that it has now been made a listed building.
who is this nut?
the gate is about to go an extensive refurb May 2004) with new luxury seats, more legroom, a new lobby and exterior signage
i love this theatre, its has such a great atmosphere, it does terrific business showing arthouse and foreign language films and is now run by the Picturehouse group, check out their website for lots of photos of the other amazing cinemas they run www.picturehouses.co.uk
The LSO with 350 seats?