Picture this

I think we need a brief respite from current events, so …

When I wrote about Glenda Jackson following her death in June, I mentioned that:

One of my memories of secondary school is being taken, with the rest of my history class, to the New Picture House in St Andrews to watch a special screening of Mary, Queen of Scots, the 1971 historical drama in which Jackson played Elizabeth I.

The name, New Picture House, was an anomaly even then because it opened in 1930 (or 1934, recollections vary) and was 'new' only in relation to the Cinema House on the other side of the road. That opened in 1913, hence the ‘New’ Picture House opposite:

Today the New Picture House is the only cinema in St Andrews because the Cinema House closed in 1979 before being demolished and replaced by a block of flats.

Little did I know that, four months later, the New Picture House would be subject to a bid by Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods who hope to turn it into a ‘luxury sports bar.’

According to reports this week:

The venue is expected to have golf simulators, duckpin bowling and darts and will screen sporting events.

Furthermore:

It will be named T-Squared Social - an homage to "Timberlake" and "Tiger" - after a similar venue of the same name opened in New York City last month.

That doesn’t scream ‘St Andrews’ to me so I’m not surprised the news has received a mixed response.

North Street, where the New Picture House stands, is normally pretty quiet. Although it’s within easy walking distance of the 18th green on the Old Course, there are only a handful of shops at one end, and the one pub (The Castle, at the far end near the old ruined cathedral) is long gone.

There are however lots of small hotels and b&bs nearby so I’m guessing the principal target market is the many overseas visitors who flock to play the Old Course. (It’s a public course so anyone, in theory, is allowed to play on it, regardless of their golfing ability.)

There is however a glimmer of hope for film buffs and local residents upset at the thought of losing the one remaining cinema in town:

If approved by Fife Council, the New Picture House will retain one cinema screen for theatrical releases.

How long that will survive is anyone’s guess but I’ll keep you posted on this important, and developing, local news story!