New Picture House Closes for Renovations

On 19 September, the New Picture House (NPH) closed for renovations. The closure comes after months of student-led campaigning against its redevelopment into celebrities Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods’ luxury project, T-Squared Social. On closing night, eager movie fans joined a sizeable queue to experience the 1930s cinema for the last time in its original form. Final screenings included Lee, Speak No Evil, and Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.
On 1 July, T-Squared Social and the NPH were granted planning permission for the redevelopment of the cinema from Fife Council. Despite its redevelopment, the building’s Category B listing ensures certain protocols are followed to preserve the site. Such measures protect the name above the entrance, ceilings, walls, and stage decorations. The NPH will remain a functional cinema when reopened in summer 2025 with 350 out of the 700 seats being saved.
The presence of the development has sparked interest from local businesses. Owner of The Cottage Kitchen, Grant Poulton, said, "Losing iconic businesses like the Picture House can be unsettling. In my personal and professional opinion, it’s incredibly sad to see it go, but the importance of supporting small independent businesses cannot be overlooked [...] It will be interesting to see how this new development evolves, hopefully in a complementary and positive way for the town, and not at the detriment of the small independent businesses.”
In its current state, the closure is impacting students in St Andrews. Film student Ruth Rodriguez said, “Unfortunately there is no other place in St Andrews that will serve the same function that the NPH has.” When asked if she would go to Dundee for the cinema, Ruth responded, “It’s a big inconvenience to travel to Dundee over an hour round trip by bus just to see a movie.”
Photo from Wiki Commons
Following the launch of the Change Programme in January 2024 that involved reviewing all elements of the University of St Andrews’...
I suppose we have ourselves to blame for the closure. The public just didn’t turn up to support the nph. At least it will still have one cinema when it reopens.
The New Picture House’s closure marks the end of an era, with St Andrews losing a beloved cinema space as it prepares for redevelopment. Similar to the intricate process of selling a house in probate, this transition involves preserving parts of the cinema's original charm while adapting to a new vision. Hopefully, the upcoming T-Squared Social project will complement the town’s unique character without diminishing local businesses, providing a fresh yet respectful evolution of this historic venue.