National Picture Theatre reopens after 85 years!

We’re proud to have worked on the National Picture Theatre restoration project for Hobson & Porter.

On Wednesday 16th September 2026, a ribbon-cutting marked the grand opening of Hull’s historic National Picture Theatre, 85 years after it was bombed in a World War 2 air raid. 

Fewer than 20 bomb ruins from the Second World War have survived in England, and the NPT is the only existing civilian example.

111 years after its original opening in December 1914, the National Picture Theatre has reopened as a WW2 memorial.

This has particular local significance in our hometown of Hull, which is cited as the city most heavily damaged in the war, with 95% of its houses damaged.

The stainless steel flat-cut letters that we installed to reflect the original signage are just one small part of the extensive works to restore this historical landmark.

Managed by the National Civilian World War II Memorial Trust, the National Picture Theatre is open to the public and will run educational programmes to teach future generations about the impact of the Second World War.