Ah, there you stand, right before the legendary Broadway Cinema in the heart of Hockley. To spot it, look towards the left side of the street. You'll see a striking modern structure with large glass windows reflecting the sky and the surrounding buildings, and a vertical sign that proudly spells out "BROADWAY." There's a gentle ramp leading up to the entrance, which should beckon you inside.
Now, let me whisk you on a tale of this splendid place. Once upon a time, this very site began its life as the Broad Street Wesleyan Church in 1839, designed by the grand architect S. S. Rawlinson. The echoes of old sermons still whisper that this is where the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth, found his calling.
Fast forward to the swingin' sixties, and you'd find the Co-operative Education Centre and the Nottingham Film Society nestled here. It wasn’t until 1982 that the spell was cast, transforming it into the enchanting Broadway Cinema. A proud moment for Robin Hood's city came in 1993 when it hosted the UK premiere of Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," just after its triumph at the Cannes Film Festival.
Film director Shane Meadows, a fellow outlaw in storytelling, has made Broadway his hideout for press interviews. And let’s not forget filmmaker Jeanie Finlay, who brought her Game of Thrones documentary 'The Last Watch' to life right here.
In 2006, with a generous bounty from the National Lottery and Arts Council England, a grand redevelopment worth about £6 million brought even more magic to the Broadway Cinema, making it home to four splendid screens. One of these screens is the world’s only cinema designed by the legendary Sir Paul Smith. And if your throat's a bit dry from all this walking and talking, they’ve got not one, but two bars to quench your thirst!
Laraine Porter, co-founder of the British Silent Film Festival, held court here between 1998 and 2008, filling the halls with the enchanting silence of early cinema.
So, next time you're in the mood for a cinematic adventure, just remember, Broadway Cinema stands ready to welcome you in Robin Hood’s Nottingham!
