Edinburgh is best known for buildings like the castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the parliament houses, but there are other fascinating spots we can uncover across the city if we look at the places where locals have typically gone for leisure. The changing demands for different types of entertainment over the centuries have helped shape the history of some of Edinburgh’s most notable buildings.
The King’s Theatre and the Golden Age of Variety
When we head to Leven Street in Tollcross, we see the King’s Theatre. This is one of the country’s best surviving examples of classic Edwardian theatrical architecture. It was opened in 1906, with the arched windows and elaborate baroque carving making it immediately stand out. Created across three tiers, it was designed with a maximum capacity of 2,500 people.
As well as looking great, this entertainment venue has been adapted over the years for different uses. It has hosted events as different from one another as variety shows, opera nights and local drama festivals. Among the most recent changes, the ceiling mural painted by artist John Byrne in 2013 has added an extra dash of colour and drama. While some British theatres are struggling, the King’s was redeveloped this year to increase the seating and add a café.
The Dominion Cinema with Art Deco Luxury
The Dominion Cinema in Morningside gives us a glimpse of the type of luxury that locals could enjoy when going to watch movies in the 1930s and beyond. Opened at the start of 1938, it was designed by architect Thomas Bowhill Gibson using the Streamline Moderne style, which is a variant of Art Deco that has its roots in ocean liners and aviation.
The facade stands out thanks to its horizontal lines and geometric glass designs, which look particularly attractive under evening light. While the original design had a single-screen auditorium, over the years it was split into smaller screens. Thankfully, this was done carefully in such a way that the original Art Deco foyer has been preserved. It’s now one of only two family-owned cinemas in Scotland and was nominated for Cinema of the Year last year.
The State Cinema in Leith
Designed by Charles J. McNair and opened in 1938, the State Cinema along the Water of Leith has an eye-catching curved brick facade and white tower. It was built to house more than 1,600 attendees, but as cinema attendances fell across the country, it was reopened as a bingo hall in the 1960s.
This transition from cinema to bingo hall shows how Edinburgh’s entertainment habits have changed over time. The State Cinema has now been converted into residential apartments, while Cineworld and Vue Cinema are among the top options for going to the movies in the city. As for bingo, the variety of online bingo UK sites means that many people now play from home. The days of the city’s finest buildings being used for bingo are in the past, as these sites contain a wide variety of versions of the game. With rooms like Bouncy Ball Bingo and Rainbow of Features, players now get more variety without leaving home.
The way that we use Edinburgh’s finest buildings has changed over the years, reflecting our changing leisure habits and lifestyles. The next time you see one of these places, take a moment to consider all the history that’s passed through them.
