Hastings’ original Electric Palace was located in the town from 1910-1915, in the building currently occupied by Sports Direct.
In 2002 the cinema as we know it now was founded by Rebecca Marshall and Rachel Pearson who renovated the upstairs events space of the Old Hastings Club for the film festival: Shot By the Sea. With a tin of red paint and set of (very uncomfortable) chairs the Electric Palace film society was born. Along with a large team of 30 volunteers, the society hosted regular screenings, archive film projects, community projects, open-air events at Alexandra Park and starlight screenings at Herstmonceaux Castle.
In 2016 the cinema was awarded ‘Best Film Programming of the Year’ at the Cinema for All Annual Awards and in 2017 established a new website, online booking system and paid projectionists – and a new set of plush vintage (and comfortable) cinema seats.
2020’s COVID pandemic forced the cinema to close. But with aid from the BFI cultural support fund, in addition to a successful crowdfunder campaign, the cinema was kept alive.
In 2022 the cinema celebrated its 20th anniversary, after which Rebecca Marshall stood down as director to pursue her filmmaking career. Antonia Clarke and Julia Andrews-Clifford, joined remaining director Annie Mannion to oversee the expansion and development plan and ensure the cinema survived and thrived in the new post-COVID climate.
Hastings is the home of TV – John Logie Baird built his first set here – and in 2024 the cinema celebrated its first TV festival. This coincided with new, longer opening hours and improved technical capabilities.
In 2025 the Klim Forster Stills Archive was donated to the cinema, and used to redecorate the new foyer. The Electric Palace also won successful funding bids to participate in BFI’s UK-Wide programmes: Powell and Pressburger; The Art of Action: Too Much Melodrama. We also received Film Hub South East funding in 2023, 2024 and 2025 to deliver new audience development projects and improve our accessibility, reaching more people in the wider local area.
