Opened as the Playhouse in June 1920, the Market Street Pavilion has survived changing tastes in theatre, cinema, dance and bingo to remain a rare working entertainment building in the Borders.
Quick Facts
| Opening | June 1920 as the Playhouse |
|---|---|
| Location | Market Street |
| Original Functions | Theatre, cinema, dance hall and retail units |
| Later Names | Playhouse, Capital, Kingsway and Pavilion |
| Major Changes | 1930s alterations; later cinema and bingo subdivision; restoration and multi-screen conversion in the 1990s |
| Listing Status | No statutory listing identified |
| Current Use | Working multi-screen cinema |
Cinema Before the Playhouse
Moving pictures were shown in the Volunteer Hall, known for entertainment as Scott’s Empire, before Galashiels gained purpose-built cinemas. A separate Pavilion opened in Channel Street in 1911 and was demolished in 1970. It must not be confused with the surviving Market Street building.
Foundations for a more ambitious Market Street venue were begun before the First World War, but construction was interrupted. The delayed building finally opened in June 1920 with a performance of The Mikado.
The Playhouse
Owned by the Galashiels Playhouse Company, the new venue combined cinema with opera, concerts and theatre. Published local accounts describe a stage, orchestra pit, dressing rooms and boxes, while retail units and a dance hall widened its role.
This mixed programme made the building a central place of leisure and performance. It demonstrates that early cinema buildings were often flexible entertainment complexes rather than single-purpose screening rooms.
Alteration and New Names
ABC Cinemas acquired the Playhouse in the 1930s and altered it extensively. Later ownership brought the Capital and Kingsway names. In the post-war period the auditorium was divided so that cinema and bingo could operate within the same structure.
Bold black-and-white cladding concealed the earlier façade. These changes reflected contemporary taste and commercial pressures, but they also obscured the building’s historical identity.
Restoration and Multi-Screen Cinema
A major refurbishment beginning in 1993 removed the cladding and recovered the inter-war character of the frontage. Additional screens were formed partly within the former stage and fly-tower volume, allowing the building to function as a modern multi-screen cinema.
The Pavilion name was adopted in reference to the town’s earlier cinema tradition. The building’s survival is unusual because many small-town cinemas closed or were demolished as viewing habits changed.
A Living Social Landmark
The cinema remains part of the evening economy and shared cultural life of Galashiels. Its history encompasses live performance, film, dancing and bingo as well as architectural change.
Its greatest heritage value may be continuity: generations have entered the same building for entertainment even though technology, interiors and branding have repeatedly changed.
Things to Notice
- The restored historic façade and its relationship with Market Street.
- Evidence of the large original theatre volume behind the frontage.
- Changes in signage reflecting successive cinema names.
- The building’s relationship with the former railway and town-centre evening routes.
- Modern screens inserted within former stage and auditorium spaces.
Why It Matters Today
A working cinema keeps the building’s central social purpose alive. Continued commercial use is likely to be the strongest protection for a specialised entertainment structure.
Future alterations should retain the restored frontage and document surviving evidence of the theatre stage, fly tower, auditorium and dance-hall phases.
Significance Scores
| Criterion | Score | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural Interest | 4/5 | A restored early twentieth-century entertainment frontage concealing a complex multi-phase theatre and cinema interior. |
| Historical Importance | 4/5 | Records the development of popular entertainment from live theatre and silent cinema to modern multi-screen exhibition. |
| Social Significance | 5/5 | A place of shared leisure and memory for generations of Borders audiences. |
| Rarity | 4/5 | A rare surviving operational small-town cinema with origins as a substantial theatre complex. |
| Townscape Contribution | 4/5 | A prominent cultural frontage on Market Street. |
These are editorial guide scores, not statutory designations. See How We Assess Significance.
Timeline
- 1911: A separate Pavilion Cinema opens in Channel Street.
- Before 1914: Foundations begin for the Market Street venue.
- June 1920: The Playhouse opens with The Mikado.
- 1930s: ABC ownership and major alteration.
- Post-war period: Cinema and bingo uses share a subdivided auditorium.
- 1993-95: Major restoration and multi-screen conversion.
- Today: The Pavilion continues as a working cinema.
Notes and Uncertainties
- The earlier draft’s 1922 date has been replaced by the better-supported June 1920 opening date.
- The Channel Street Pavilion and Market Street Playhouse are separate buildings.
- The architect has not yet been verified from a primary source.
- Current operator and screen information may change and should be taken from the cinema’s own website.
Image and Licence Notes
The photograph by Ian S is reused through Wikimedia Commons / Geograph Britain and Ireland under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Related Places
Sources
- Galashiels Heartland, Pavilion Cinema history.
- ITV Border, cinema centenary.
- RCAHMS, Historic Galashiels.
- Wikimedia Commons image page.
Last reviewed: 15 July 2026.