The Strand is the oldest cinema in Northern Ireland – the sole survivor from that glamorous Art Deco period when Belfast alone boasted over 40 picture palaces.

It is of great architectural significance as the last example of a 1930’s cinema building. Every cinema had its own unique design and the Strand was no exception. Designed by John McBride Neill (whose stunning cinema legacy also included the Tonic and the Curzon), the Strand’s design was heavily influenced by its proximity to the Harland & Wolff shipyard with its curved exterior like the bow of a ship. The nautical theme continued inside with curved walls and porthole-shaped windows and light fittings giving the feel of being on an ocean liner.

The Strand is hugely important not just in terms of its architecture, but also its social history – three or four generations of the same families have been through its doors.

Our heritage events are programmed to reflect and celebrate the Strand’s contribution to East Belfast, past and present, and to demonstrate the community’s need for it to continue in the future.