Look, I know – the phrase ‘hidden gem’ is chucked around far too liberally these days. But hear me out for a moment or two. Because I come bearing a surreptitious spot so sparkly, it warrants the ‘hidden gem’ title in spades.
Perched proudly in the heart of oh-so charming Chiswick is an old picture house that is home to a rather hefty secret. Nestled inside the Art Deco former-cinema is an eclectic antique emporium that’s been putting dusty IKEA flatpack furniture to shame since 1978.
The history of the Old Cinema
The spot served as a local movie theatre between 1908 and 1934, shutting up shop just before the start of WWII. It laid vacant for the best part of twenty years, apart from spending a short stint as a parachute storage site during the war. It then reopened at some point in the 1950s, selling Victorian furniture – and was later snapped up by some local antique dealers who turned it into the multi-level pre-loved paradise we know today.
Inside the Old Cinema
The Old Cinema is home to a huge collection of antique dealers, decorators and designers. Filled to the brim with one-of-a-kind items; you could visit the store a hundred times over, and still find something unique and utterly gorgeous every time you went.
Spread across three floors and spanning a whopping 10,000 square-feet; the Old Cinema is filled with a diverse and ever-changing stock. There’s furniture and light fixtures, textiles and trinkets, music, art, and honestly so much more.
As a family-run business, the Old Cinema has managed to maintain a warm, welcoming, and friendly informality that makes wandering the warehouse a truly delightful experience. Antique-enthusiasts of the capital city, this spot is not one to be missed.
The Old Cinema is open 10am-6pm on Mondays-Saturdays and 11am-5pm on Sundays. Find out more and plan your visit here.
160 Chiswick High Road, W4 1PR.
Nearest station is Turnham Green.