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2025 is our 30th anniversary!

Celebrate with us throughout the year with our 30th anniversary events…

30th Anniversary Summer Film Festival – from July 18th

We’re showing 30 films to celebrate our 30 years, one film from each year since the Kirkgate Centre opened. Each title will have a local connection, see if you can work them all out once the films are announced!
Films are now ready to book online, and you can purchase a film pass, which will give you the option of booking to see every one of the 30 films for just £30! Buy your pass online first, then your customer account will enable one free seat at any (or all!) of our festival titles.
BUY YOUR FILM PASS HERE and view the digital brochure HERE

Anniversary Party! – Saturday 11th October

Join us at The Kirkgate for a New Orleans speakeasy style celebration with the 1920s swing jazz band Alligator Gumbo, there’ll be food with a Cajun twist and you’ll have a final chance to buy your 30th birthday raffle tickets.
This a chance to celebrate 30 years of The Kirkgate in style, so put on your fanciest frocks, invite all your friends and get ready to groove the night away.

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.

ENTER THE RAFFLE HERE

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.

Kirkgate Arts and Heritage Cockermouth Venue for Theatre Films Music 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

Jeremy Sassoon’s MOJO

12th July 2025 8:00pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)

Kirkgate Centre

Category: Music

“Jeremy Sassoon's MOJO” Musicians Of Jewish Origin 2022 Edinburgh Fringe reviews * * * * * Pick Of The Fringe – “Five stars!” * * * * * AssemblyFest, Edinburgh Fringe – “The perfect Fringe show” * * * * * North West End UK – “An eye-opening experience” * * * * * Jewish Renaissance – “Sassoon has definitely ...

The Sunday Session

13th July 2025 2:00pm (Doors open at 1:45 pm)

Kirkgate Centre

Category: Join In

Are you a musician, looking for a place to test out your tunes? Do you sing/play and would love to meet up with other musicians to have a bit of a jam? Our open mic night has evolved! We're starting a new approach, to cater for all, with our Sunday Sessions. Come down for a listen, or bring an instrument ...

Heritage Walk: The Mills of South Cockermouth with Stan Leigh

14th July 2025 6:00pm

Kirkgate Centre

Category: Local History

Cockermouth's development was strongly tied to our mills. There is evidence for over 40 mills in the town, stretching back to the Roman period, through the middle ages and a big increase during theindustrial revolution. Join Stan Leigh for a walk to explore some of the mills in the north of the town. This is one of two walks featuring ...

The Penguin Lessons (12A)

14th July 2025 8:00pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)

Kirkgate Centre

Category: Film

The Penguin Lessons is inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, Tom discovers a divided nation and a class of unteachable students. However, after he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach, his life is turned upside-down. Adapted from Tom Michell’s autobiographical book, ...
Testimonials

I remember fondly our time at the Kirkgate a couple of years ago, the warm and intimate atmosphere and the friendly welcome.

Kiki Dee

 The Kirkgate is my ideal venue. Intimate and warm, staffed by passionate folks who really care about The Arts and about their local community. It has a beating heart, even more so due to the eager enthusiastic volunteers who help run it.

Snake Davis

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Cockermouth and had a great evening at the Kirkgate, the venue and staff were fantastic. We look forward to returning sometime in the future.

Kevin Morris & Dr Feelgood