Celebrating its 100th birthday this year Brynamman Cinema offers film lovers a magical journey back in time
In this day and age of streaming platforms and monthly subscriptions many people might not feel the need to head to the cinema for the latest film releases when they can enjoy from the comfort of their own lounge.
But one independent movie house in Wales continues to buck the trend by attracting film lovers far and wide thanks to its unique offering that makes you feel like we’re still living in the golden age of cinema.
It’s often said going to the movies isn’t what it used to be. But it might be if you’re heading to Brynamman Cinema, which is celebrating its 100th birthday.
To get the full story behind this wondrous old place, though, one has to go back further than 100 years. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here.
In 1915 a devastating fire tore through Brynamman. The community hall was razed to the ground, stripping the residents of this village of their cherished communal hub.
Less than a decade later, in 1924, as the nation attempted to find its footing following the end of World War One in 1918, that hub was reconstructed. Thanks to local miners who contributed a modest portion of their weekly wages not only to build it but also to sustain it Brynamman Public Hall was reborn.
It formally opened in 1926 and now, 100 years on, it remains – along with the charm that feels every bit as rich and genuine as it would have a century ago.
Pulling up outside the building there’s little to take your breath away at first glance. It resembles any other village hall – the sort of place you might pop into for a coffee morning – yet the interior tells an altogether different story.
Walking past the ticket booth, up the staircase, and beyond the small shop selling popcorn, with vintage film reels adorning the walls, the full spectacle reveals itself.
This is a truly unique cinema: beautiful, captivating, and steeped in history.
Standing in front of the huge screen one cannot help but be struck by the thought of generations of miners who sought respite here after punishing shifts underground or the countless families who have been entertained within these walls throughout much of the 20th century and into the 21st.
There’s no escaping the feeling that this place isn’t merely important – it’s absolutely essential. While this cinema aims to provide visitors with a window into history those running it understand the role it continues to play today.
The cinema doesn’t simply exist as a tribute to the past or a reminder of a golden age long gone – this is a fully operational modern cinema which has just welcomed more than 1,200 moviegoers during the opening few days of the Toy Story 5 release.
With tickets priced at just £5 per person at the door (£4.75 if booked in advance online) how does Brynamman Cinema manage to survive in this day and age of multiplex this and streaming that?
The bulk of box office revenue immediately flows back out of the door. When two tickets are purchased for £10 then £6 of that sum goes directly to the studio distributing whichever blockbuster is being screened.
But this place is run by the community that surrounds it – mostly volunteers who dedicate themselves to it out of sheer passion. There are also nine part-time staff.
The world of cinema is changing and venues like this one need to change as well.
“How busy we are depends on a few different things,” said Tom Smith, the manager at Brynamman Cinema. “The hot weather can have a say but also if the big studios don’t bring out anything major that can also cause admissions to drop.
“Numbers can be low at times but other times, like with last week’s release of Toy Story 5, we have over a thousand people through the door in the opening three or four days.
“A film needs to find its feet these days like if a film is part of a trend on TikTok.
“One challenge is the reality that people can get a streaming service at home for under £10 a month – that’s less than two cinema tickets. People can get unlimited access to films so they tend to treat going to the cinema as more of a luxury.”
Tom says the traditional blockbuster is more important now than it ever was. A routine release, which may have filled cinemas in decades past, can now often be watched as part of a subscription at home just weeks after its debut.
But with the big films the audience still enjoys being in an auditorium – especially one as grand and as impressive as this one.
“Cinema will always be here,” said Tom. “But I think the relationship between cinemas and distributors will need to be altered in some ways.
“The percentage we give back has always been about the same but that doesn’t make as much sense now because there is so much competition we have to contend with streaming.
“There needs to be a bigger push for that change to happen from a big company but that’s the ideal situation for the future.
“We are really lucky here because the experience we can give people is not something that every cinema can offer. Our cinema is very grand, it’s very beautiful, and we have such a dedicated audience and a big catchment area.
“As long as people keep going to the cinema they will keep coming to this cinema. The fluctuation we see in audience numbers is happening everywhere – that’s how audience habits have changed.”
Brynamman Cinema has applied for and received grants to modernise the more-than-a-century-old building to maintain and refurb what first opened as a public hall in 1926.
But it’s kept alive by its dedicated army of 20 or so volunteers and the thirst that still exists to watch the latest film releases in such an incredible and historic setting. It also now has a bar inside, and staff still bring round ice cream in trays, with every sale doing its own little bit to keep this cinema thriving.
Last year Brynamman Cinema won Best Cinema Experience at the Welsh Hospitality Awards, and it’s easy to see why.
“We will continue to adapt,” said Tom. “If something changes we try to change with it. But we will always be true to our heritage.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login