Phoenix Picturehouse

The Phoenix Picturehouse is Oxford's oldest working cinema. It opened in 1913 as the North Oxford Kinema, designed by Gilbert T. Gardner, on a single ground-floor screen serving the rapidly growing North Oxford and Jericho neighbourhoods. It was renamed the Scala in 1920, and reached its current identity as the Phoenix Picturehouse in 1989. Since 2012 it has been part of Picturehouse Cinemas, the arthouse subsidiary of Cineworld.

The building has been remodelled several times. The current configuration is two screens — one larger, one smaller — with a foyer bar at street level. The frontage on Walton Street is unassuming; the cinema is recognisable mainly by the neon sign.

What's on

Programming runs the Picturehouse arthouse template: contemporary world cinema, indie releases, the Picturehouse Discover Tuesdays strand (curated repertory and small new releases), live event cinema (Royal Opera House, National Theatre Live), and a strong line in matinee classics. Members get cheaper tickets, free previews and a discount at the bar. Standard adult evening tickets are around £12–£14; matinees and senior screenings cheaper.

The Phoenix had a brief on-screen moment in Inspector Morse: an exterior shot in the 1987 episode The Wolvercote Tongue uses the Walton Street frontage.

Visiting

The cinema sits on Walton Street in the heart of Jericho — easily reachable on foot from the city centre in fifteen minutes, with Jericho Café, Branca and the Jericho Tavern all on the same stretch. There is no dedicated car park; on-street parking is restricted in evenings, so cycle or walk. The bar opens an hour before the first show.

Opening year, original name, architect (Gilbert T. Gardner), renaming dates (Scala 1920, Phoenix Picturehouse 1989) and Cineworld/Picturehouse ownership (2012) from the Wikipedia article. Inspector Morse appearance per the same source. Programming detail from the Picturehouses Phoenix venue page.