Electric Palace Donations

Founded in 2002, The Electric Palace cinema has grown into a well loved, independent community cinema in the heart of Hastings Old Town, East Sussex, UK.

23 years on and, particularly since the pandemic, cinema attendance habits are changing, rising costs are having an impact, and it's becoming harder and harder to sustain small cinemas. It's a battle for survival in the cinema world at the moment, us included. We also have goals to continue the necessary upgrades to the interior and facilities in the venue, and make repairs following our recent break in.

We REALLY need any support you can offer to keep the Electric Palace thriving and enable us to continue put on an eclectic roster of films and events for the Hastings community. Thank you so much for your consideration.

You can support The Electric Palace Cinema with a one off or a regular donation.

Optionally, you can save your purchase to your account by Signing in.
If you don’t have an account, you can Sign up to create one.

Thank you so much for visiting our Donate page!

If you're here, you're considering giving the Electric Palace a donation, so please stick around and read below a few comments from customers and supporters about what makes the Electric Palace so special, and why we really need and appreciate your help in enabling this tiny but well loved cinema to continue to put on important community events.

• ‘Finest venue in Sussex. The Electric Palace is not just a great party venue and a fun place to visit in the Old Town, it’s probably the best independent cinema I know. With seasons for everyone from big film buffs to small children, it's got everything you want from a brilliant cinema.’ Emmy-award winning comedy writer, author and music journalist, David Quantick
• ‘Had a private event here for my hen-do, fabulous cinema and facilities. This place is fantastic and a real old town gem. Thankyou :)’
  Katie Rogers, Facebook review
• ‘...a haven for those with less mainstream cinema tastes. Striving to put arthouse well and truly back on the map the film listings read like a cinephile’s ultimate dream – there’s even a B Movie Fan Club.’ Sussex Life magazine, 10 Quirky Independent Cinemas in Sussex, March 2016
• 'Great location and a wonderful local asset!' - Helen Craig, Google review
• ‘I love this place – it's sooooo Hastings’ - Gumweed, Tripadvisor
• 'Another one off the bucket list. Lovely atmosphere, lovely people - even if one of the apparent regulars snored throughout most of the film ! LOL. New seats were comfy, although I'm gutted I missed out on the original ones. Uncomfy they may have allegedly been, but that's all part of the experience ! Keep up the great work. I will be back.' Facebook reviewer
• ‘Thank you so much, we had a fantastic night. It was a lovely birthday surprise for our friend and we loved the venue so much, and many thanks to the lovely helpful volunteer that looked after us so well’ Michelle, happy customer via email
• ‘Highly recommend you come and support this little place if you see something worth watching. Much better experience than going to one of the big commercial cinemas.’ Wells666, Tripadvisor

You can see some of the things people love about the EP - any support you can share with us goes a long way to helping us with increasing costs.

Thank you.

National Cinema Day Auction and Memorabilia Sale 2024 - Saturday 7 September, 2.30-5.30pm

You're invited to an extra special auction and memorabilia sale to help raise funds for beloved Old Town venue, The Electric Palace cinema!
Come by at any time between 2.30pm to 5.30pm to see what's on offer at the cinema’s National Cinema Day Auction and Memorabilia Sale on Saturday 7 September.

Many cinemas are struggling to remain open due to the cost of living crisis, plus the impact of Covid and streaming services, and it’s a battle for survival in the cinema world at the moment. So come along to show your support and get your hands on cool film merchandise including rare film stills, framed photos, vintage posters and other desirable cinema items at the Electric Palace’s cinema auction and memorabilia sale.

Drop in at any time during the afternoon and enjoy the fun!

Some of the items for sale on the day:
•    Rare Film Stills
•    Cinema and Film Memorabilia
•    Rare DVDs and Blu Rays
•    Framed Photos
•    Posters
•    Badges
•    T-Shirts
•    Tote Bags
•    Gift Tokens
•    Postcards
•    Pens
•    David Tibet Exclusive Art Work

Items for auction on the day:
•    Vintage Cinema Seats
•    Vintage Cinema Programmes
•    Vintage Film Posters
•    Vintage Projectors

Cinema habits and the new reality
Run entirely by part-time staff and volunteers, Hastings’ special independent cinema has been serving the community for 22 years. Facing rising costs, independent cinemas are struggling to survive across the country, with venues like the historic Electric Cinema in Birmingham closing down, and more locally the Sussex Exchange.
As a community interest company the Electric Palace is a not-for-profit organisation but is still subject to 20% VAT on all its ticket prices. Without regular external funding it relies solely on its ticket and bar income to cover its costs.

Annie Mannion, the Electric Palace cinema’s co-director, says:
“In order to maintain our lovely venue and make necessary repairs and improvements following our recent break-in we are launching this new fundraising event.
You came out in force as the amazing community you are when we held a post-Covid fundraiser which enabled us to continue through a particularly tricky period. Please do join us on Saturday 7th September, and head out to the cinema when you can and enjoy new releases and other gems in the company of others.”

Find out more about the fundraising event:
https://www.electricpalacecinema.com/latest/fundraiser-2024

Since the pandemic, cinema attendance habits have changed, and it's becoming harder and harder to sustain small cinemas.

Any support you can offer us will help to keep the Electric Palace thriving and enable us to continue put on an eclectic roster of films and events for the Hastings community. Thank you.