The George Cinema

The George Cinema is a listed building from the late 1930s featuring characteristic Art Deco design elements throughout its interior. The venue contains orchestra and balcony seating arranged with the distinctive vertical and horizontal lines typical of that architectural style.

The building opened in 1939 as County Cinema with a major film premiere and received its current name in 1954. In 1974 it transitioned to become a bingo club, ending its cinema operations.

The cinema served as a community gathering place and screened international films during the Edinburgh Film Festival. Modern film technologies of its era made it a venue where audiences could experience cinematic innovations firsthand.

The building is located on Bath Street in the Portobello district and remains easy to reach on foot. Since it no longer operates as a cinema, visitors should check availability before planning a visit to view the exterior and architectural features.

The building originally featured an illuminated glass advertising tower that glowed with changing neon colors throughout the night. This striking structure was visible across much of Portobello and made the cinema a recognizable landmark for the neighborhood.

Location: City of Edinburgh

Location: Edinburgh

GPS coordinates: 55.95376,-3.11333

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:20