Did you know that Looe had a cinema as early as 1925? Unfortunately it and all the others that followed have come and gone, which is a great shame but the desire to watch and show films on a big screen in Looe live one via the Looe Film Society.

Considering the small population of Looe and the fact that it was primarily a fishing community, it’s amazing that Looe had any cinemas at all and is a testimony to the diversity and spirit of the town’s residents.

For information on films in Looe today, scroll down this page.

Looe – cinemas of the past

1. Little Cinema

The first cinema in Looe was called The Cinema (later renamed the Little Cinema). It could seat 178 people and operated from 1925 until 1949 on the ground floor of the Town Hall in Fore Street. It’s now an indoor market.

2. Pavilion

The next cinema in Looe was the Pavilion cinema (later renamed the Regent) which opened in March 1933 next to the bridge. It could seat 327 people and continued to show films until 1960. The building is now used as an amusement arcade and mini bowling alley.

3. Cinema

The most recent cinema in Looe was situated in Higher Market Street. The cinema was run by Michael Lee who also ran the Olde Fisherman’s Arms pub! It could seat 95 people and closed in 1999. The last film shown was Eyes Wide Shut and building is now offices!

Looe – cinema and film today

You may be thinking it’s a shame there’s no cinema in Looe today, which it is, but never fear as local residents have got together to form the Looe Film Society and carry on the tradition of showing films in Looe.

Looe Film Society was established in May 2006. Using the name Cinema by the Sea and aims to bring world class films using the latest digital technology to Looe. The Society is run by volunteers and is a registered charity (1115142).

Film Society of the Year Awards

In 2007, Looe Film Society was awarded a Distinction in the Best New Society category of the Film Society of the Year Awards. Needless to say everyone was overjoyed at this and this enthusiasm and dedication still runs strong in the Looe Film Society today.

Films for 2011/2012

• Submarine (15) – Wed 19 Oct
• Potiche(15) – Wed 16 Nov
• Life in a Day (12A) – Wed 17 Nov
• Jane Eyre (15)- Sat 7 Jan – FILM PLUS
• Still Walking (U) – Wed 18 Jan
• Beginners (15) – Wed 15 Feb
• TBA (?) – Sat 3 Mar FILM PLUS
• Oranges & Sunshine (PG) – Wed 21 March
• TBA (15) – Wed 18 April
• TBA (15) – Wed 16 May
• TBA (15) – Wed 20 June
• TBA (15) – Wed 18 July
• TBA (15) – TBA FILM PLUS
• TBA (15) – Wed 15 August
• TBA (15) – Wed 19 September

Films in Looe for 2011

Here are the films for May to September 2011

• The Kids Are All Right (15) 25 May 2011
• The King’s Speech (12A) 15 June 2011
• Of Gods And Men (15) 20 July 2011
• True Grit (15) 17 August 2011
• Chico and Rita (15) 21 September 2011

The programme of films below is for February to May 2011

• Made in Dagenham – 16 March
• I am Love – 23 February
• The Illusionist – 16 March
• Tamara Drewe – 20 April
• Another Year – 18 May
• The Kids are All Right – 25 May

Films in Looe for 2009

The programme of films below is from March to September 2009

• Man on Wire – 13 March
• The Art of Catching Lobsters – 3 April
• Sunrise – 24 April
• Changeling – 15 May
• Slumdog Millionaire – 5 June
• The Orphanage – 26 June
• Revolutionary Road – 11 September

Films in Looe for 2008/09

The programme of films below is from October 2008 to February 2009

• The Lives of Others – 6 October
• Michael Clayton – 3 November
• Persepolis – 24 November
• Mamma Mia! – 15 December
• The Rules of the Game – 12 January
• Happy-Go-Lucky – 2 February
• Abouna – 23 February

Films in Looe for 2008

The programme of films below, covers the period up to September 2008.

• Atonement – 17 March
• Dressing Granite – 7 April
• The Singer – 28 April
• The Golden Door – 19 May
• Grow Your Own – 9 June
• Classic Film evening – Chinatown (1974) – 7 July
• Tell No One – 15 September

If you’d like to see a film in Looe or want more information, check out the LFS website at: www.looefilmsociety.org.uk