The Wotton Electric Picture House Ltd was formed to manage and operate the refurbished town cinema in Wotton under Edge. It is now known by its original 1913 name, The Electric Picture House. The company's co-operative status is a reflection of its desire to have a cinema run by the community for the community.

The Cinema is in fact, a flexible multi-media, fixed seating, digital venue that is not available anywhere else in the region.

Operation of the cinema is carried out by a friendly and helpful volunteer force and the whole operation is organised by management committee members. The Cinema employs a Coordinator of Volunteers, with plans to enlarge the number of employees in the future. It is believed there will always be a place for volunteers in the running of the Cinema, as this maintains the links within the community.

The fully refurbished cinema is a 100 seat modern multi-media digital facility and provides a service to a wide cross-section of people in the community. It shows films using the very latest modern high-definition digital projector obtained from the Film Council.  The Electric Picture House concentrates on providing a mix of popular and unusual films offering new releases in an extensive weekly programme. It should be noted that most modern films today are distributed in Digital format, though the majority of Cinemas still used the old 35mm material.

It should also be noted that the Wotton cinema obtains digital films as soon as the studios allow it to. While it seeks to show as big a variety of films as possible each week, it would not be able to do so if it accepted first run films from the studios who, for the most part, insist on blanket runs to the exclusion of all others for the first two weeks. This may change one day.

The aim of the cinema is to provide a local, affordable and accessible venue with a warm and friendly environment. In particular they are seeking to cater for filmgoers who prefer not to go to multiplexes as it offers a smaller and more intimate environment. For example, there no big advertising presentations before the film, which starts on-time as advertised (with allowances for the few people who arrive late). On occasions free chocolates are offered around before the film starts.

There is a selection of sweets and drinks at modest prices but with no popcorn on environmental grounds (sound, smell and material damage).

There is on-line booking for up to 50% of each show and credit cards are taken at the box-office. Due to the nature of the operation, there is no other advanced booking available at present.

Plans for the future:

• Live shows now that the Cinema has been fitted out with stage lighting.
  
  
• Business/conference hire for the daytime.
  
  
• Film-making is being carefully considered with other local groups.
  
  
• A Computer-game club to play on the big screen (once an organizer can be found).

A visit to this award winning Cinema is highly recommended as it leads the industry into a potentially new cinematic revolution, where small towns can enjoy a new type of low cost, environmentally friendly experience.