A popular immersive cinema is set to stay in its prime spot overlooking Mayfield Park.
Backyard Cinema has been given permission to retain their site for three years by the council. Initially, it opened last October for a 10-week run to show Christmas films.
The 330-capacity venue was complemented by two bars, street food vendors and a live music stage. Now, bosses have permission to add an events and theatre space for ‘temporary exhibitions or seasonal activities’.
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On opening the cinema last year, Dominic Davies, founder and CEO, said: “At Backyard Cinema we like to take you on a journey to other worlds from some of your favourite films. We like to keep a few secrets for when you arrive, but as you can see your journey will start in Dr Portelli’s Curious Curiosities.
“The whole point of Backyard Cinema is that you can come for a whole day out, so we’ve got the waiting room bar and the Tavern where you can enjoy mulled wine, boozy hot chocolate, beers, wines and chillout to some live music. We’re incredibly proud of the Waiting Room bar because we loved the station, it’s 150 years old and been derelict for 60 years - this was the original waiting room so we tried to keep it as true to it as we could - old school greens tiles and we’ve kept the iron exposed. It will be really cosy with heaters, tables and chairs."
In recent years, Mayfield has gone from wasteland surrounding a former Post Office depot to one of the world’s most attractive hospitality destinations. The Warehouse Project moved in in 2019, and Escape to Freight Island a year later.
Alongside this, the city’s first park for decades opened up next door in September last year — and more development is coming to the area over the next decade. Backyard Cinema believe they can play a vital role in continuing the rebirth of the area.
“The Depot Rooftop is key to the future success at Mayfield and will help visitors to visualise the longer term ambitions of this space,” Backyard Cinema said in a statement to planners.
“The proposals will represent an excellent new cultural addition to the city and will cater for all ages. It will bring the rooftop of the Depot back into activation, which has been immensely successful in relation to the Mayfield Depot and Freight Island.”
The planning application does not reveal when Backyard will reopen, but it can use the space until January 27, 2026.
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