The inside of Keswick’s historic Alhambra cinema currently resembles a building site with a dumper truck and excavator tearing up the main floor of the auditorium earlier this week.
But in around four months’ time the 108-year-old attraction will be welcoming back wide-eyed customers marvelling at the £750,000 transformation of a much-loved building.
Work has been taking place this to create a 30-seat second screen beneath the balcony and the foundations are being dug ahead of concrete being poured and five steel frame supports being erected.
The screen will sit on its own concrete base but will not touch any other part of the sound proofed room, which will cut any audible transmission to the main auditorium.
Creating the second screen has only led to the removal of four rows of seats from the back of the auditorium along with the kiosk and disabled toilets.
“The challenge for screen two was: Where are you going to put it?” said director Jonathan Moore.
“We worked out that we could put it underneath the balcony.
“This way we keep the original picture house feel. So the experience of people watching a film in the main auditorium will be the same as before.”
Mr Moore said the cinema would definitely be open ahead of the new James Bond blockbuster “No Time to Die” which is going on general release in the UK on September 31.
He said that a second screen would allow for more flexibility meaning that they will be showing a wider variety of films than before.
“We could be showing a blockbuster movie in the auditorium and a more niche film in the other cinema,” said Mr Moore. “Or we could have a more family friendly film in one and a film more suited to an adult audience in the other.”
“But we are not going to rush this project because we have got just one opportunity to get this right,” said Mr Moore.
“Everything that we come against like finding asbestos, mildew and damp, we are treating it as we go along because we are not going to have an opportunity like this again.
“This whole project is about the sustainability of the cinema. We are future proofing the building really.”
A new foyer will be created at the entrance and there will be an area where people can “mingle and socialise” and enjoy refreshments before taking their seats to watch a film.
New sash windows have been made for the ground floor to help keep the authenticity of the building while windows on the top floor will be reglazed and restored.
Windows on the stairs will be clear giving a fine outlook onto the surrounding fells and revealing Skiddaw for the first time in many years.
Previously the windows at the front of the cinema had been blocked up and covered up with poster boards.
Two circular stained glass windows in the front of the building are also being repaired and poster boards will be displayed down Derwent Street instead of at the front of the building.
There will also be new signage at the front and the cinema revert back to the colour scheme it had when built and will be much less “cluttered” in appearance.
Removal of legacy wiring in areas like the projection room is also taking place and the plumbing is being refurbished.
There will be toilets on the ground and top floors.
Built in 1913, the Alhambra is one of very few UK picture houses that have been in continuous operation for over 100 years.
It is the base for Keswick Film Club which ordinarily meets on Sunday evenings and is the host venue for the Keswick Film Festival.
