To help us give you the best experience possible, please accept all cookies National Lottery Open Week 2025 is now over and will be back in 2026 Dates will be announced in the coming months National Lottery Open Week is a way for National Lottery funded venues to say thank you to the players for the £30 million raised for Good Causes every week Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website use a shopping cart or make use of e-billing services See strictly necessary cookies These allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it This helps us to improve the way our website works by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily See analytical or performance cookies These cookies record your visit to our website the pages you have visited and the links you have followed We will use this information to make our website and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests [We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.] See targeting cookies CloseThe rise of multiplex cinemas led to the closure of many smaller independent cinemas and those that have managed to survive are being hit hard by rising energy costs Brynamman Public Hall and Cinema in Carmarthenshire has kept going thanks to the support of volunteers it would...rip the heart out of the village," said General Manager Tom Smith Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreVolunteers help independent cinema thrive 00:01:51Volunteers help independent cinema thrive 1:51 Up Next 00:02:24Valleys cinema saved by volunteers 2:24 The legacy of Belfast's silver screen love affair 00:01:37The legacy of Belfast's silver screen love affair 1:37 Is Netflix killing the cinema 4:32Editor's recommendations Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 00:01:44Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 1:44 Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 00:01:25Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 1:25 Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster Video 00:01:21Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster 1:21 'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 00:01:20'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 1:20 Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 00:02:54Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 2:54 Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 00:01:32Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 1:32 Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 00:01:11Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 1:11 Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 00:00:50Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 0:50 Ros Atkins on.. What's in the US-Ukraine resources deal 1:23 Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 00:01:18Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 1:18 Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released 00:00:46Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released Carmarthenshire News Online Local and National News for Carmarthenshire Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email Dyfed-Powys Police is investigating a fire which occurred at a property in Station Road A MAN from Ammanford has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after an intelligence-led operation by… We had a great day at Garnant with Tanya Richards of Mountain View Feeds and county councillor Kevin Madge and… Welcome to Brynamman Cinema(Image: Adrian White Photography)One hundred and seven years ago The community hall was completely destroyed robbing the people of this village in the Amman Valley of their communal home as the country tried to rise to its feet once more following the conclusion of World War One in 1918 Thanks to local miners who contributed a small portion of their weekly pay packets to not just build it but to help run it Read more: The day a Welsh town hosted the Jurassic Park premiere after the mayor wrote to Steven Spielberg but with a charm that feels as rich and sincere as it would have done almost a century ago As you park up near the building there’s nothing to take your breath away but the inside tells a rather different tale up the stairs and past the little shop selling popcorn with old film reels on the wall But it doesn’t merely exist as a nod to history and a reminder of a bygone golden age – this a fully functional modern cinema which will be showing the new Batman blockbuster on the first day of release in a few weeks’ time and films have been shown here for almost 100 years(Image: Adrian White Photography)John Viola was born and bred in Brynamman He’s been coming here for as long as he can remember and for more than a decade he’s been one of the hands on deck making sure there remains a place for a local independent cinema like this in a world dominated by multinational companies in the era of the multiplex “I was speaking to one of the trustees about 11 years ago and he asked if I could help out and it’s gone from there,” said John looking down at the classic red seats which line up in front of one of the biggest traditional theatre screens in Wales All the volunteers we have here do it for nothing because it keeps the cinema alive It’s a very important place because it’s the only cinema in the area There used to be a couple more nearby but they’re all gone If this place goes there will be nothing left “I show people around when they come here and give them a bit of a tour – it adds a bit of a personal touch You can see it on people’s faces when they come here for the first time – they’re just like ‘wow’ and they ask themselves why they haven’t been here before.” In years gone by the cinema had a unique evacuation policy(Image: Adrian White Photography)It’s easy to make the assumption with a theatre such as this that it was closed down years ago and somehow reopened but that is not the case here Brynamman Cinema has always been operational since it first opened nearly a century ago Like almost everywhere else it closed its doors between March 2020 and August 2020 and then again from November of that year until May last year brought its own challenges but thanks to some government support and the rallying of the local community the cinema is stronger than ever Just before the outbreak of coronavirus the cinema was enjoying a particularly busy period throughout 2018 and 2019 thanks in no small part to cinemagoers some 20-odd miles away voting with their feet on extortionate ticket prices Cinema manager Tom Smith inside the projection booth at Brynamman Cinema(Image: Adrian White Photography)‌“It got really busy when Vue in Carmarthen was charging expensive prices,” said Tom Smith manager of Brynamman Cinema and someone who’s worked here since he was 14 “People came here for a change and because it was cheaper and many have stuck with us even after Vue slashed their prices “I think if people have only ever been to a multiplex they don’t really know what to expect Then they come here and it looks like what a proper cinema should look like has been the hub of the community for generations “Back in the 1970s and 1980s a lot of these old halls – and they used to be everywhere – closed down because bingo basically killed cinema by the time communities wanted to open cinemas again TV and video had taken over – the world had changed But in Brynamman there’s never been bingo here at the front of the stage in this grand old hall And that picture in the hallway as you come in is of Brian Wyn Harries who started out as a projectionist and ended up as managing director here Both were involved with the hall for more than half a century.” The figurine of Rita which has a permanent spot to the left of the main stage (Image: Adrian White Photography)Rita passed away some years ago and Brian died in 2020 but their presence is still felt here by those who remember them because it’s people like that who keep places like this alive – sometimes against the odds There aren’t that many places like this left What exactly is the cost of retaining this piece of history but at the same time giving people what they want in the Netflix age – new films and not next month It costs just £5 for a ticket to see a film at Brynamman Cinema or £4 for a child or a senior citizen is a member of staff along with two others but the cinema could not function without its array of volunteers There are 10 trustees that make up the committee and another 10 or so volunteers that help to keep the place running The majority of the money taken in at the box office goes straight out the door When two tickets are sold for £10 then £6 of that goes to the studio behind whatever blockbuster is being shown Even the much smaller screen two is something rather special (Image: Adrian White Photography)“For every two tickets sold we have £4 to play with which goes to cover the cost of everything so being mainly volunteer-run is a massive thing,” explained Tom “If we had a full payroll to look after like most cinemas it would be extremely difficult to keep going If we waited a month or so to get the latest films it would be much cheaper for us – we would have to pay less per ticket sold to the studios many people may have seen it elsewhere and we would ultimately lose out on ticket sales and sales of things like popcorn and everything else So we want the latest films as soon as they are released “I still think that surprises people when they come here – not just the theatre itself and the way it looks but the fact that we show new films immediately upon release.” Another pivotal member of the team here is Bosco Chan a part-time projectionist who sits behind the first floor’s back row in a cluttered office room fitted out with old film reels and a 1950s projector that looks like something from Hollywood’s golden era and meticulously swapping the film reels every 15 or 20 minutes in such a careful manner that the audience is none the wiser The interior inside Brynamman Cinema may have maintained the classic feel but in the engine room it’s a different story Bosco has an important job to do behind the scenes as the audience relaxes in front of the big screen (Image: Adrian White Photography)“I started out here as a volunteer about 10 years ago,” said Bosco “Now I work here as a member of staff part-time “Putting on a film today is simpler but also more technical I was trained using 35mm films when you would have to change the reels I used to run the ads on one reel and then switch over for the main film but now films are sent to us either on a hard drive or we download them onto a server We pre-book films weeks in advance so they’re all ready in what we call DCPs – digital cinema packages “One thing we do here which is a bit different is we play the ads then we have an intermission so the audience have a chance to get their ice-cream and their popcorn from one of the ushers who walk the aisles Keep up to date with what's on where you live: you really get a sense of the size of the 11m-wide screen You wouldn’t believe so when standing behind it but the screen mechanically moves backwards at the touch of a button to reveal a large stage Standing at the front you can’t help but be amazed at the thought of generations of miners who came here to unwind after gruelling hours and days down the pit or the thought of all the families that have been entertained here throughout most of the 20th century and into the 21st You can’t escape the sense that this place isn’t just important – it’s vital As much as Brynamman Cinema wants to offer people a glimpse of the past those who run it recognise the importance of moving with the times Since 2013 there’s also been a second cinema screen here set in a smaller and more intimate room downstairs which can be booked for private screenings and birthday parties “It’s important that we change when we need to – if you don’t change you can get left behind," said Tom "When I started here we had one film showing for two weeks but now we show four or five films a week There was a time when we couldn’t possibly do that but the digital world has changed a lot of things and if the multiplexes are doing something then we have to try and do it as well he looks wistfully at the back of this gorgeous old theatre and recalls a time when he came here “This place has been and will always be a huge part of my life," he said "It’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me and I’ll be here for as long as I live.” To get the latest What's On newsletters from WalesOnline click here. the brand new Ysgol Gorslas building was officially opened by Council Leader There’s good news for Cynheidre as the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway (L&MMR) have been awarded a £1907.67 grant from… a new Wellbeing Workhub has been unveiled at Llyn Llech Owain Country Park The village pool has been shut since 2010 after freezing weather damaged drains and the pump house By Ian Lewis · 9 May 2022 Hopes of reopening Brynamman Lido have taken a step forward thanks to a funding boost of several thousand pounds Volunteers are working to raise enough cash to bring the lido back into use The swimming pool was built in Brynamman in the Amman Valley in the 1930s However it was closed in 2010 after freezing winter weather caused £20,000 of damage to the drains and pump house Brynaman Lido Committee have now been awarded a Project Viability Grant of £10,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) The grant award will pay for professional advisors such as architects quantity surveyors and consultants to work with the committee to produce a feasibility study to establish the sustainability of the exciting vision for the lido’s future Wales development manager at the AHF said: "This grant has been made possible thanks to our funding partners at Cadw the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Pilgrim Trust.” Research will be led by Carmarthen-based Rural Office for Architecture which said in a statement that it is "delighted" to be supporting Brynaman Lido with proposals for its redevelopment of the historic community asset It added: "Working in the region for the past 15 years we are passionate about supporting local initiatives that sustain and improve the health and wellbeing of valley communities." photographs and memories from local people will help to inform the refurbishment while retaining the pool's original appearance the group will improve access and safety so that people of different ages and abilities will be able to use this beautifully refurbished facility The full project is estimated to cost around £1 million and will take up to three years to complete The committee said that the support of AHF is a very important step on that journey Shine a spotlight on your neighbourhood by becoming an Area Ambassador Click here to learn more! 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