A project to restore a Grade II* listed cinema has been given a grant of more than half a million pounds.

Historic England (HE) has awarded £675,246 to the Paignton Picture House to carry out works to stabilise the building and restore architectural features.

HE South West regional director Rebecca Barrett said it was one of the largest grants given this year and it represented “another big step towards its future as a thriving cultural hub”.

Paignton Picture House is expected to reopen in September 2026.

Ms Barrett said HE had invested more than £940,000 since the cinema was added to the Heritage at Risk Register in 2013.

The recent grant is intended to help restore features including the mosaic floor, original ticket offices and Art Deco lighting.

Julian Carnell, a trustee of the Paignton Picture House Trust, said it was “fantastic news”.

He said it was “a very significant grant which will further enable us to restore and repair this historic building”.

The picture house opened in 1914 and has been associated with Agatha Christie as she was a regular visitor and it is believed she watched adaptations of her novels from the balcony.

It was closed in 1999 and the building is being developed in to a hub for film, arts and community activity.