Search for contractor to restore former National Picture Theatre

A search has begun to find a contractor to restore and preserve Hull’s National Picture Theatre, in Beverley Road.

Thanks to funding from Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the building, which is the last remaining Second World War civilian ruin in the UK, will be brought back to life.

Set to become a flexible space for community events and education, it will also be a place of reflection for the 1,200 Hull civilians who died during the war.

The contractor will undertake work to restore the façade to its former period style, including its windows and signage.

The building as it appeared in 1915

Structural elements, including the two large concrete beams, which saved the lives of the 150 people inside the theatre on the night it was bombed, will also be preserved.

Councillor Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure, said: “The council is looking to appoint a contractor who can sensitively restore the façade and undertake structural work.

“This is an untouched site, and this work will not only protect its future but raise awareness of its significance as a rare surviving bomb-damaged building from the Second World War.”

The former National Picture Theatre was designed by architects Runton and Barry for the De-Luxe Theatre Company and was constructed in 1914.

The building was badly damaged during a Luftwaffe air raid on 18 March 1941, although none of the 150 people inside the cinema at the time were killed or seriously injured.

The former National Picture Theatre gained Grade II listed status in 2007 due to its significance as a rare surviving bomb-damaged building from the Blitz.

Remedial work to stabilise the building took place in 2020 and now the major works are scheduled to begin in 2024.