With the public launch of our Name a Seat campaign, we are offering our supporters the chance to name a seat and join 250 others
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Our project
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"This is a historic landmark, but it's so much more than that" Tim Bevan, Co-Chairman, Working Title Films
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"It's not just about a restoration; it's about what we'd miss if we don't do this" Asif Kapadia, Film Director, University of Westminster Alumnus
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"It's where I learnt my trade, where I started, where a lot of us got started" Lucia Zucchetti, Film Editor, University of Westminster Alumnus
Name a seat
Timeline
Scroll the timeline to discover the history of the prestigious cinema at our Regent Street campus
6 August 1838
Polytechnic Institute open at 309 Regent Street
23 March 1841
First photographic studio in Europe opens on the roof of the building. Dickens is one of its first visitors
1841
Prince Albert becomes patron of the Royal Polytechnic Institution
1848
A new theatre is opened, which becomes famous for its magic lantern shows
25 September 1882
Young Men's Christian Institute opens at 309 Regent Street, soon to become know as the 'Polytechnic'
1891
Hogg's Polytechnic becomes Regent Street Polytechnic
21 February 1896
The Lumière brothers' Cinématographie is demonstrated - the first public showing of moving pictures to a paying audience in Britain
1908
The Olympic Games are held in London. The Polytechnic organises the Marathon and the opening and closing ceremonies of the games
1910 - 12
Old Polytechnic building is rebuilt, but retaining the old theatre behind a new façade
1933
Polytechnic offers the country's frst course in cinematography
April 1935
Compton Organ installed and still working over 75 years later
1970
Polytechnic of Central London formed as one of the 30 new polytechnics and a year later offers the UK's first Honours degree course in film
July 1980
The last cinema company to lease the building vacates, and the space is no longer used as a commercial cinema
1992
PCL gains university status and is renamed the University of Westminster
2003
'The Warrior', directed by Asif Kapadia wins a BAFTA for Best British Film
2004
Michael Winterbottom wins a BAFTA for 'In This World'
2007
Seamus McGarvey wins the Evening Standard British Film Award for 'Atonement'
2009-2010
Westminster film students win the Kodak Student Commercials Awards outright two years running
2010
Tony Grisoni wins a BAFTA TV award for 'The Unloved'
2010
Asif Kapadia directs 'Senna', which goes on to win multiple awards including the Audience Award, Sundance Film Festival
2011
Student production 'The Miserables' is nominated for the Student Academy Award, and wins the Audience Award at the Beijing Film Festival
2011
Sam Care is named one of BAFTA's 'Brits to Watch'
2014
Completion of the project to revive the birthplace of British Cinema: a restored cinema opens to the public
In association with
The University of Westminster is pleased to have the support of the Heritage Lottery fund, Quintin Hogg Trust and MBI Al Jaber Foundation on this project.