Strand Cinema opened its doors on 7 December 1935, with one screen and 1170 seats. It was designed by John McBride Neill – a prolific local cinema architect – who also designed the Curzon (Ormeau Road), the Majestic (South Belfast), and the Tonic (Bangor). Amazingly, the Strand was built in just six months. It opened during the boom years of cinema in Belfast, when the building was part of a sprawling network of cinemas scattered all over the city. By the end of the 1930s, Belfast boasted over 40 cinemas!

The Strand’s design was influenced by its proximity to the nearby shipyard of Harland and Wolff, featuring curved walls and port-hole details. In fact, over the years it has been likened to an ocean liner.

Initially the Strand was operated by Union Cinemas. But in 1937 it was taken over by ABC Cinemas who operated it until 1977. During this time, the ABC Minors Matinee Club was a very popular fixture of the Strand. The ABC Minors Matinee took place every Saturday and featured sing-alongs, competitions and films for children. No parents were allowed – just Honorary ‘Uncles’ and stewards to look after the audience.

Despite the popularity and glamour of cinemas in the early 1950s, by the end of the decade the cinema business fell into decline, largely due to the growth of television. Many cinemas across Belfast closed their doors in the 60s and 70s. And in the early 1980s the survival of the building was very uncertain.

Luckily for us, it was reborn as ‘Strand Variety’ – a live performance venue – in September 1984. The new venture was masterminded by local businessman Ronnie Rutherford. The opening show was the John Anderson Big Band Show. Highlights of the variety theatre years included performances by the Nolan Sisters in September 1985 and The Drifters in May 1986.

Although very popular, the variety theatre was not sustainable. (Performances were irregular, and getting the big acts over was very expensive). And Ronnie had also harboured a desire show films at the Strand again. So on 29th of April 1988 the Strand was reborn as 4 screen multiplex. It was an immediate success. A particularly popular film was ‘Three Men and a Baby’ which showed at the Strand for six months!

However, in the 1990s, large multiplexes started to arrive in Belfast and smaller cinemas like the Strand suffered. However, in 1999 the Strand embarked on a revamp, emphasising its Art Deco style. And in 2013, the Strand Arts Centre was established as a charity to ensure the short-term survival of the building, with longer term plans to completely renovate the Strand.

In October 2020 the Strand embarked on the Strand Stories heritage project, in order to record, promote and cherish the history of our unique venue. The project is kindly supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.