Everyman Cinema

The Everyman Cinema stands in Holly Bush Vale, Hampstead, a former theatre that opened in 1920 under Norman MacDermott. It began as the Everyman Theatre, aiming to create a repertory company like those in Birmingham and Dublin. MacDermott ran it until 1926, staging plays by Bernard Shaw, John Galsworthy and Arnold Bennett, among others. The theatre gained fame for Noël Coward’s *The Vortex*, which drew large crowds despite censorship concerns. Well-known actors such as Edith Evans and Roger Livesey performed there during its early years. Financial pressures forced MacDermott to leave, and the building later became a cinema in 1933.

The cinema has remained a cultural hub, showing revivals and international films under different owners. It closed briefly during the Second World War and reopened in 1946 under James Fairfax Jones and his wife Tess. Adrian Turner later expanded its programming to include film noir and musicals. The Everyman became the first in the Everyman Cinema Group in 2000 after being purchased by Daniel Broch. Today it hosts new releases, classic films, opera broadcasts and live discussions. The venue also offers a licensed bar and restaurant alongside two public screens.

Inside, visitors find a 122-seat auditorium with club suites, gallery seating and a vaulted ceiling. A smaller 72-seat screen provides a more intimate experience, while a private hire room caters for events. The cinema uses Sony Digital 4K projectors and Dolby Digital surround sound for high-quality screenings. Its location in Hampstead, a village-like area of north London, adds to its charm. The building retains elements of its theatrical past while adapting to modern cinema needs.