‘To the people of Prestwick, this is now yours’. The delight on Guy Walker’s face is infectious as he stands in the newly restored foyer of Broadway Cinema, announcing that the building - which for so many years stood crumbling on the town's Main Street - has officially passed into community ownership.

In front of the Friends of Broadway chairman is the largest crowd to set foot inside the former cinema in decades, 89 years to the day it first opened on April 29, 1935.

The building has seen plenty of changes since then. From being used in its original form as a local cinema and café, to later being used as an amusement arcade and leisure centre, the Broadway gradually became a forgotten relic of the past.

That is until now. For the past few years, a group of local cinematic and architectural enthusiasts have dared to dream big for the 1920s Art Deco building designed by well-respected London-born architect Alister Gladstone MacDonald.

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 The team behind it, known as the Friends of Broadway, is now aiming for the building to be restored to its former glory and original purpose.

This week marked the culmination of that dream and determination, as the building was officially sold to them and brought into community ownership after receiving a grant from the Scottish Land Fund in December.

“To see people inside these walls for the first time in decades is incredible. It feels fantastic, it feels like the walls are echoing all the happy memories and experiences like it must have done 89 years ago”, Guy Walker tells me.

A former cinema projectionist, Guy became involved with the Friends of Broadway after noticing the building from his garden.

Standing in the reception next to the original ticket booth speaking with Guy, hearing his enthusiasm and admiring the symmetry of the interior, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve been swept back in time.

“I always knew it was a hidden gem so wanted to get involved and the rest is history.

“The whole thing at the end of the day is all about the magic of cinema. It can take people to different places, inspire them, create hope, and generally make people feel happier”, Guy continues.

While the driving inspiration for the group is drawn from the past, the focus is very much on the future of the building, and just like Guy says about cinema, the recent news that it’s community-owned and on track to be restored really does inspire hope. Not just the hope that it will simply be renovated but hope that everything the Friends of Broadway envision comes to fruition, providing something for the community of Prestwick and creating a major attraction in the town.

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Now that former owners Buzzworks Group have sold the building to the Friends of Broadway, contributing a significant six-figure discount to enable it to pass into community ownership, the real work can officially begin.

Friends of Broadway recently appointed a full-time Project Development Officer, allowing it to receive the proper focus to drive the project forward.  

In that role is Kyle McFarlane, becoming the cinema’s first employee in 48 years. He joined the group after growing up in Prestwick and eventually taking a keen notice of the architecture.

Kyle’s contribution has already played a major role in getting the project to where it is now. So far, he’s acted as a spokesperson across national media, identified the chosen Stage One architects, and played a part in several successful funding applications.

Kyle says the plan is to bring about a modern version while keeping in line with Alister McDonald’s original design.

He said: “It will return very much to the original 1930s Art Deco design. The original evocative atmosphere will be restored.

“Alister McDonald built this beautiful cinema, and we are very fortunate that it’s still here. The building is a survivor.  So, the idea is we'll fully restore the façade, many original features will be fully restored as well. Even the original projectors will be back working again. So, it will be a really unique venue and there are very few places like it.”

Kyle is also leading the cinema’s Gaelic language plan and has been meeting with pupils of Prestwick Academy to find out what they envision for the building’s future.

As many of the project’s supporters gathered to witness a ceremonial key handover on Monday, the Prestwick Academy pupils, who’d made the key, were there to witness as well.

Sixth year, Rosie Wallbanks said: “They know that by the time the cinema has been renovated, it will be our generation that is using it most, so it is really important for them to have our input, and it's very exciting for us to be involved.

“To have such a big say in what could be a major attraction in Ayrshire is amazing. It has been really fun getting involved.

“So far, we’ve given opinions and suggestions on what movies to show, and the concessions as well. The snacks are very important. And tried to help create a vision of what it should look like. For example, the seating and the general layout of the Broadway.

“It’s helped give me a bit of an education on the history of the building and Prestwick, I didn't even really know it was here before. Seeing it here today, knowing what I know about it now, it feels historic and exciting. I think it will encourage more of the younger generation to get involved.

“I think the way they’re renovating it will keep it vintage, but with a modern twist as well, I think it will be pretty attractive to everyone of all ages.”

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In terms of immediate renovations, Kyle says work will continue immediately to ensure the building can become as sustainable as possible going forward. It’s not confirmed when they expect to open to the public, and costs are uncertain, but the group see this as the beginning and a very positive start.

Kyle added: “It’s going to be a long winding journey now, but we’re considering a phased approach to opening, and that hopefully means we could get parts of this open a little sooner. But of course, the full finished result would come later.

“It’s all down to interpretation at this point, and we'll be working with the community along the way to find out exactly what they'd like to see at certain points and hopefully, we’ll be able to find a way to keep the momentum building.

“It’s very hard to give a firm cost of the total project because it very much depends on what that final vision will be, which we will find out from working with the local community. Our architects, alongside the community and ourselves, will be working hard on that.

“Hypothetically, a perfect finished product could be around £10m, to throw out a ballpark figure. It could be more it could be less but there are lots of variables at this time and that’s why we’re considering a phased approach to the project.

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“We're looking to implement as many different types of renewable technologies as we can. Ideally, we want the Broadway to be as close to carbon neutral as we can get to future-proof us. We’re in no doubt energy costs will continue to rise in the years to come.

“So, in that aspect, there is lots to do. We’ll need a new roof; we’ll need to insulate the building. Many aspects like that are crucial but we can certainly find a way of doing that, that engages people along the way so they can see those changes happening.”

Today (Saturday 4 May), the public is being invited to take a look inside the building between 11 am and 4 pm. There Kyle, Guy, and the rest of the Friends of Broadway team will be available to chat and guide visitors through the plans of what once was and what soon could be a historic attraction in Prestwick.