The Old Cinema is London’s only department store devoted to selling antique, vintage, retro, industrial and upcycled furniture. They carry a good stock of decorative arts, lighting, jewellery and gifts and can deliver throughout the UK. They also supply interior designers, stylists, trade buyers and the public from our huge showrooms at 160 Chiswick High Road, London W4 1PR.
The Old Cinema was just that, a local picture house circa 1908 to 1934, when it was relinquished and remained dark for two decades– apart from a brief spell as parachute storage during WWII.
The building reopened in the 1950’s selling Victorian furniture and was soon attracting a strong export market as traditional British antiques became the vogue around Europe, America and Japan.
During the 1970s, the site narrowly avoided demolition by a supermarket chain. Instead, a couple of local antique dealers obtained the freehold, refurbished the old building and created the much loved local attraction that continues to inspire visitors with its eccentric mix of furniture and accessories.
Today’s stock is more diverse and unpredictable than ever. One morning the buyers pour over cargo from Scandinavia or the USA, whilst the next might bring a consignment of glass from Eastern Europe, lighting from Italy, or carvings and textiles from India. The ever-changing inventory makes The Old Cinema an unbeatable shopping destination for trade clients and private buyers alike. From kitsch Americana to period antique, Mad Men-style rosewood to hardcore industrial, Asian arts to French decadence, our finds have already made it onto the set of Hollywood movies, into exclusive hotels, fine restaurants and bakeries , trendy bars and boutiques , celebrity homes and castles. Despite its global appeal and size, The Old Cinema remains a family business and retains a friendly informality which helps to retain its unique character and operating style.
