2025 is our 30th anniversary!
Celebrate with us throughout the year with our 30th anniversary events…
Picnic at the Castle – Sunday 1st June
30th Anniversary Summer Film Festival – from July 19th
Anniversary Party! – Saturday 11th October
30th Anniversary Raffle – to be drawn mid October
With 30 prizes for our 30 years including a private film screening with dinner for two from Wild Zucchinis, a house concert from At The Drop of Another Hippopotamus, bespoke glass art, a voucher for The Kirkstile + a case of beer and many more! Raffle entry is £5 either online or through our box office.
Seller registration is now open for our Autumn 2025 Cockfrock event. This ever popular sale of pre-loved ladies fashions and accessories is the biggest pop up sale of it’s kind in the North West! For more information on being a seller with Cockfrock click here.
We have an exciting new opportunity at Kirkgate Arts & Heritage click here to find out more about a new voluntary role working alongside our executive team.
The Kirkgate Centre is an entertainment and cultural venue at the heart of the lively community of Cockermouth, Cumbria.
We celebrate our local talent and heritage, and bring top quality professional entertainment to our town and many other communities across the area to the west of the Lake District National Park.
Whether you enjoy films on a big screen, live music, theatre, exhibitions, shows for children and families or community events, Kirkgate has something for everyone. Our quirky character makes us a special venue for weddings, parties, festivals and conferences.
Our mission:
“Creative talent is valued, developed, and supported with opportunities for all to actively engage with and enjoy the arts, our local heritage and community life”
Our values:
Commitment – Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to delivering our mission.
Inclusion – We aim to make art, heritage, and culture accessible to all our communities.
Sustainability – We aim to ensure that the organisation is secure for future generations from both financial and environmental perspective.
Nurturing – We aim to provide an environment that encourages growth, development of skills confidence and enjoyment for all.
WHAT’S ON
September 5th (15)
4th June 2025 2:00pm (Doors open at 1:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
September 5th picked up several nominations for Best Film and its Screenplay. "September 5" is a historical drama film directed by Tim Fehlbaum that focuses on the 1972 Munich Olympic hostage crisis from the perspective of the ABC Sports crew. The film highlights their transition from covering the Olympics to reporting on the hostage situation involving Israeli athletes, and showcases ...
Cockermouth Chat Group
5th June 2025 1:00pm
Kirkgate Centre
A time to chat and share memories over a cup of tea/coffee. From food to school days, to work and travel and all sorts in between. We'll have some photos and artefacts from the Cockermouth Heritage Collection out for you to have a look at with a different theme each month. Free and open to all, you don't have to ...
The Return (15)
6th June 2025 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
After 20 years away, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The King has returned from the Trojan War, but much has changed in his kingdom. His beloved wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) is a prisoner in her own home, hounded by suitors vying to be king. Their son Telemachus faces death at the hands ...
The Show Tunes Must Go On!
7th June 2025 7:30pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
Get ready for an incredible night of musical excellence with "The Showtunes Must Go On"! This exciting show brings the best of Broadway and the West End to life in your local theatre. We promise an unforgettable show with an explosion of high-energy performances. From the haunting melodies of Phantom of the Opera to the empowering anthems of Wicked, you'll ...