Acton has always been fond of the building that sits on the corner of Winchester Street and the High Street.

Built at the turn of the 20th Century, the Grade II listed building was designed by famed British architect Maurice Adams FRIBA and was part-funded by philanthropist J Passmore Edwards. At the time, it was presented in the form of a gift to the town as The Library and contained some 8,000 volumes of literature.

In 1989, the library closed and remained disused until 2014 when Ealing Council opened it for potential community bids. In May 2018, the Acton Arts Project was formed, with the remit to expand culture in the community. It was successful in its bid to take over the building in November 2019 and, in April 2021, it took over the lease and got started on its plans to transform the venue into a cinema while restoring some of its original lustre.

After successfully applying for the Bright Ideas and Architectural Heritage fund, alongside investment and community donations, the project raised £115,000 in pledges from the local community and contributions from Ealing Council’s ward forums for South Acton, East Acton, Southfield and Acton Central – and Acton BID.

Finally, in October 2021, the Act One Cinema was officially opened with one 60-seat screen, a café/bar and a lounge area.  Since then, it has expanded its offering to include a second screen and hosts a series of community-led events.

Amazing community spirit

“There was a lot of buzz for a cinema to return to Acton,” said Amanda Mason, one of the directors of Acton Arts Project.

“The old library was a focal point for the community and, when it closed, we were determined not to lose that hub. We had more than 100 volunteers coming in to transform the building into the venue that you see today. There’s been an amazing community spirit and we’re delighted with the results.”

You had to travel a long way

Fellow director Nick Jones said the clamour for a community-led, pop-up cinema grew from a popular film club he and another director had been running for several years.

He said: “When the building became available, we decided that a cinema was really the best option for Acton because, whilst there are cinemas in Shepherds Bush and one planned for Ealing, there was a kind of desert in Acton. If you wanted to see a movie you had to travel a long way and there were a great number of people in the area who were interested in the idea.

“Once the pandemic struck, it became very clear that people became much more interested in having something on their doorstep, a local venue where they could walk to, instead of having to travel on a bus, tube or drive.”

Your best bet – to make the most of your movie evening or date night at Act One – is to arrive early or stay late after your film. This place is more than just coming to view the latest Hollywood flick. They want you to relax, take your time and soak up the atmosphere.

“We didn’t want a standard, multiplex experience,” said Nick. “We wanted something more bohemian, more boutique I suppose, which is something that people seem to like. It’s got a nice, informal feel to it.

More than movies

More than just a cinema, the Acton Arts Project runs film clubs, has used the building to display local artists, hold Q&A events and more. Its team also holds an open mic night once a month and encourages young filmmakers to showcase projects to audiences on the big screens.

There is a large, yet cosy, communal area for visitors to enjoy a drink from the café, run by the cinema staff, where events are often held. And, if there isn’t a film showing that you want to watch, you can just come and enjoy the atmosphere, read a book or even do some work.