The Project
In October 2022, the ‘Save the Belmont Cinema’ campaign was formed by passionate group of local people in response to the sudden closure of The Belmont Cinema in Aberdeen city centre.
Since then, the campaign steering group established the charitable organisation Belmont Community Cinema Ltd and was appointed 'preferred operator' for the venue by Aberdeen City Council in 2023.
Now we are working hard on an ambitious fundraising campaign that will allow us to reimagine, refurbish, and reopen The Belmont Cinema for the cultural benefit of everyone in Aberdeen.
The Story So Far
The 'Save the Belmont Cinema' campaign was started by Aberdeen local (and, now, Belmont Community Cinema Ltd Trustee) Jacob Campbell and quickly established an online community of like-minded supporters.
It was set up within an hour of news breaking that the Belmont Cinema would be abruptly closing, due to its parent company (The Centre for the Moving Image) going into administration.
Hundreds attended the first meeting at Krakatoa bar in Aberdeen, and speakers included the organisers, Belmont staff and local politicians, all throwing their support behind a campaign to bring back Aberdeen's cinema.
Save the Belmont Cinema launched its official website — built by local creative agency FortyTwo Studio — offering information on the campaign, news & updates and collecting memories from Belmont audiences from years gone by.
You can still add your memories of The Belmont on our Memories page.
The new website was launched at a public meeting at The Blue Lamp in Aberdeen on 27th March 2023, where supporters also got an update by the campaign 'steering group' on the work to date.
Cinema and film consultancy Mustard Studio was commissioned by Aberdeen City Council to create a feasibility report and business plan to assess whether, and on what basis, The Belmont might operate in a financially sustainable manner and to assess what kind of operator may give the venue the best chance of future success.
They delivered this report in May 2023, and the Save the Belmont Cinema campaign were pleased to find its recommendations and proposed options for the future of The Belmont aligned closely with our proposed vision for the venue.
Read more about the Mustard Studio Feasibility Report.
Having submitted an expression of interest and business plan to Aberdeen City Council earlier in the year — focusing on the 'four pillars' of Film, Community, Education and Customer Experience; and confirming a strategic partnership with Station House Media Unit — Belmont Community Cinema Ltd was appointed by the Council as the 'preferred operator' for The Belmont venue.
This was a significant milestone for the campaign, and laid the foundation for the opportunity we now have to take Aberdeen's cinema into community ownership and launch a refurbished and reimagined Belmont — if our fundraising campaign is successful.
On 15th June 2024, The Belmont Cinema trustees provided a project update — unveiling the new brand, proposed designs for the cinema venue and launched the public Crowdfunder — at a special event at the Aberdeen Douglas Hotel.
This update was the culmination of many months of hard work by the project team and marked the start of the next phase in our campaign to reimagine, refurbish and reopen The Belmont Cinema.
Visit our How to Support page for more information.
The Belmont Cinema appointed Matt Buchanan as Chief Executive Officer, bringing a wealth of experience, strategic leadership and a deep passion for film to his new role, following a highly successful tenure as venue manager at The Montrose Playhouse.
In Montrose, Matt was instrumental in transforming a derelict swimming pool into a thriving hub for film, arts, and culture. And his proven leadership and dedication to community-focused arts made him the ideal choice to lead The Belmont Cinema into its next chapter.
The Belmont Cinema awarded up to £1.5 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage.
Thanks to National Lottery players, The Belmont Cinema is able to move into the next phase of the project, in which refurbishment works can begin on this historic Aberdeen building.
This is a major milestone at the beginning of 2026, setting up an exciting year to come.
Refurbishing
The Belmont
At our Saturday 15th June 2024 project update and fundraising launch event, we were delighted to present some concept designs for The Belmont Cinema, developed by Aberdeen architecture firm, TINTO.
NEW TRUSTEES JOIN THE BOARD
January 2026 — The year began as The Belmont welcomed five new trustees to the board — Danuta Dobrzanska, Emma McRuvie, Frankie Pringle, Iain Anderson, and Sarah Duncan — joining us on our mission to reimagine, refurbish and reopen Aberdeen’s independent cinema.
NEW FUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
June 2025 — Gemma Cruickshank joined The Belmont team as Funding and Development Manager, bringing over 16 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality sectors and joining at an exciting stage in the campaign, having secured over £1 million in capital and operational funding.
£100K AWARD FROM UKSPF
May 2025 — The campaign to reopen Aberdeen’s Belmont Cinema took another major step forward thanks to a £100,000 award from Aberdeen City Council, distributing the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
This funding will support essential upgrades to the cinema’s entrance, lobby, and kiosk areas. Read more.
NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED
January 2025 — The year got off to a great start for The Belmont, with the appointment of Matt Buchanan as Chief Executive — bringing a wealth of experience, strategic leadership and a deep passion for film to his new role, following a highly successful tenure as venue manager at The Montrose Playhouse.
PBIP FUNDING FOR REFURBISHMENT
November 2024 — Belmont Community Cinema Ltd was awarded £70,354.44 towards the planned refurbishment of the building by Aberdeen City Council. This Place-Based Investment Programme (PBIP) funding adds further capital support to plans to reimagine, refurbish and reopen Aberdeen’s independent cinema.
VATTENFALL 'UNLOCK OUR FUTURE' GRANT
October 2024 — £10,000 was awarded to The Belmont through Vattenfall's 'Unlock Our Future Fund', through Foundation Scotland, contributing towards the cost of a brand-new 4K laser project for the cinema, providing world-class projection to audiences and reducing energy usage by up to 70% (vs xenon lamp projectors).
ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE FUND GRANT
October 2024 — £10,000 was awarded to The Belmont by the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), a registered charity working to promote the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK. This grant will contribute to creating a new and sustainable future for this historic building.
ABERDEEN STUDENT SHOW RAISES £7000+
June 2024 — Aberdeen Student Show 2024, having selected us as People's Choice Charity of the year, raised £7339.89 for Belmont Community Cinema Ltd — a very impressive total that we're immensely grateful for.
CINEMA DESIGN CONCEPTS REVEALED
June 2024 — At our 15th June 2024 project update and fundraising launch at Aberdeen Douglas Hotel, TINTO Architecture unveiled their latest designs for the future of The Belmont. Take a look.
RGU STUDENTS RAISING FUNDS FOR THE BELMONT
April 2024 — Students from Robert Gordon University's (RGU) School of Creative and Cultural Business raised a fantastic £410 for The Belmont Cinema with a Revival Room event as part of Aberdeen Student Festival.
BARBIE SCREENING ON IWD 2024
March 2024 — Cowdray Hall was once again the venue as Belmont Community Cinema Ltd hosted a special free screening of Greta Gerwig's smash hit Barbie on International Women's Day, with all donations from attendees going to Rape Crisis Grampian.
SHMU STUDENTS GATHER BELMONT MEMORIES
March 2024 — The Belmont's strategic education & learning partner Station House Media Unit (SHMU) were gathering memories and hearing about the future plans for the venue, thanks to the hard work and creativity of its Foundation Apprenticeship students from Kemnay Academy, who rolled cameras on Belmont Street to talk about all things The Belmont.
SARAH DINGWALL JOINS
February 2024 — Sarah Dingwall joined Belmont Community Cinema Ltd as our first employee, in the vital role of Head of Income Generation and Business Development.
ABERDEEN STUDENT SHOW PEOPLE'S CHOICE CHARITY 2023/2024
January 2024 — Aberdeen Student Show named The Belmont Cinema as their People's Choice Charity for 2023/2024 — one of five 'gold' level charities that their April show, Mounthoolin Rouge, supported with generous donations.
FESTIVE SCREENING 2023
December 2023 — Belmont Community Cinema Ltd upheld their yuletide tradition with another screening of It's a Wonderful Life — this time in Aberdeen Art Gallery's beautiful Cowdray Hall.
£80,000 FUNDING BOOST
December 2023 — Belmont Community Cinema Ltd were delighted to be awarded grant funding of £40,000 from the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, as well as £40,000 grant funding from Aberdeen City Council that had been previously allocated to the venue's previous operator.
PROJECT UPDATE AT COWDRAY HALL
October 2023 — The Belmont community came together at Aberdeen Art Gallery's Cowdray Hall for a project update from the team and a glimpse at some initial concept designs by TINTO Architecture.
WEBSITE LAUNCHED
March 2023 — At a project update meeting at The Blue Lamp in Aberdeen, the 'Save the Belmont Cinema' team were delighted to launch a campaign website, developed by local creative agency FortyTwo Studio.
LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH SCREENING
February 2023 — We held a special screening of But I'm a Cheerleader to mark LGBT+ History Month, with fundraising proceeds going to local LGBT+ charity, Four Pillars.
FESTIVE SCREENING 2022
December 2022 — The newly-formed 'Save the Belmont Cinema' campaign held a special festive screening of Frank Capra's 1946 classic It's a Wonderful Life to raise funds for Instant Neighbour and the CMI Staff Welfare Fund.
STEERING GROUP ESTABLISHED
November 2022 — Following the initial 'Save the Belmont Cinema' meeting, a Steering Group was formed and began meeting regularly to develop ideas and engage with Aberdeen City Council.
FIRST MEETING
October 2022 — The 'Save the Belmont Cinema' campaign was set up a matter of hours after news broke that the Belmont Cinema would be abruptly closing. Hundreds attended the first meeting at Krakatoa bar in Aberdeen.