Members of the public will have the opportunity to explore the University of Westminster’s most historic building 309 Regent Street, its adjoining Regent Street Cinema and the newly reopened radical lunchtime theatre Soho Poly on 16 and 17 September.
The London-wide Open House Festival will run for two weeks between 6-17 September and will give people the chance to step inside some of London’s most historic, unique and interesting buildings. The Festival celebrates architecture throughout the city and aims to educate visitors on its history and the people behind it.
Tours of 309 Regent Street are available between 10am and 3pm over the weekend on 16-17 September. Each tour will last 50 minutes, with the final one starting at 2pm. There is a maximum capacity of 25 people per tour and places can be booked on a first come first served basis.
The building is located near BBC Broadcasting House and accommodates classes for students studying English and Creative Writing, Languages, History, Politics and International Relations among others. During the tour, guests will be able to walk through Fyvie Hall, a historic oak panelled room that was dedicated to Lord Leith of Fyvie, which features the newly restored Fyvie Hall pipe organ and a range of paintings by artists including Delmar Banner that were put up in the early 1920s.
The Regent Cinema, the University’s onsite cinema, will also be open for visitors during this time. The venue has a rich history and is seen as the birthplace of British Cinema, being the first place in the UK to show moving images to a paying audience. The beautiful art deco auditorium is also open to the public as a unique arts venue for screenings, lectures, workshops and events, and has become a landmark for film in the heart of London’s West End.
On Saturday, the Soho Poly on Riding House Street will be open from 11am-4pm, with tours and an introduction to the space happening on the hour. The last drop-in time is 3pm and each slot will have a maximum of 25 visitors. After it was abandoned in 1990, the Soho Poly fell into disrepair. However, in 2012 it was rediscovered and has now been reopened, offering students and members of the public a space to celebrate creativity and engage with the arts.
Dr Elaine Penn, Head of University Records and Archives, said: “We’re excited to be opening as part of the Open House Festival after a break of several years. Each space reveals a different aspect of our 185-year-old history, from magic lantern shows and fringe theatre to technical education and sporting heroes. Together they demonstrate our distinctive position in the heart of London.”
Book a space on the Soho Poly and 309 Regent Street tours.
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