Ritzy Picturehouse
London, England
Boxoffice Blue Ribbon 2025 | Renovation
The Ritzy has been a staple of South London culture for over a century, opening its doors on March 11, 1911, as the Electric Pavilion, one of the country’s earliest purpose-built cinemas. After enduring a demolition threat in the 1970s, Lambeth Council reopened the venue as a specialty arts cinema, adding four screens and a bar. Picturehouse’s 2025 renovation of the space, spearheaded by Marta Taveres, Director of International Design for the Regal Cineworld Group, completely refurbished the site’s foyer, bar, and facilities—while still maintaining the original features of its beautiful main auditorium as well as the iconic Edwardian exterior and marquee. The Ritzy is more than just a cinema; it is a timeless picture palace, a community hub, and a local legend. All five of Ritzy’s screens feature state-of-the-art sound and projection technology, including Laser By Barco projectors, Dolby sound as well as 35mm capabilities.
Complete with a new Almodóvar-meets-Bowie-inspired restaurant and a stylish renovation of the kiosk and foyer area, the cinema stands tall, with many of its original features intact. Its main auditorium is still decorated in all its original glory: an ornate Edwardian movie hall with plush red seats and gold finishes that make any trip to the cinema feel special. The readograph atop the original marquee harkens back to years of cinema traditions, bearing messages ranging from new releases to declarations of love, fitting, as The Ritzy often doubles as a wedding venue. Even for those who aren’t regular cinema-goers, The Ritzy is an iconic fixture on Windrush Square with a world-famous façade.
The Upstairs Bar at the Ritzy Picturehouse is a well-loved cultural hub, hosting film quizzes, DJ sets, live music and comedy, and downstairs you’ll find En Root: an Indian-inspired, family-run, vegan street-food restaurant, offering an alternative to the snacks and drinks available at the café and kiosk. Downstairs, guests can enjoy a fully-stocked concession stand, bar, café, and a restaurant run by En Root. The restaurant brings healthy, hearty, home-cooked meals with a Gujarati twist. There’s a diverse range of affordable, soul-warming lunch and dinner specialties on the menu, all made in-house by a family-run team, all 100% plant-based.
KEY FEATURES
- 5 Auditoriums
- Laser Projection by Barco
- Dolby Sound and 35mm Capability
- Live Events and Bar Space
- Full-service Vegan restaurant
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