As you approach the picture house you can see there is a curved stained glass window running from the first floor to the roof, set between Corinthian pilasters. The vine and grape glass pattern is meant to be lit from the inside and seen from the outside in order to entice people in.

Enter through the unique circular shaped entrance and you will see the building still retains much of the original architecture. As you enter the main auditorium you start to travel back in time and your eye is directed to the barrel vaulted roof supported by pilasters, each topped with a cartouche of a face from the entertainment industry - one of which is Douglas Fairbanks as Moses, there are also crests which are from old film companys.

You walk down the centre isle where back in the very early days it was called the "Electric Bioscopic Exhibition Centre with Entertainment Suitable for Ladies" - gentleman would be seated on the right and ladies on the left.

The screen in front of you was altered in the late 1950’s when cinemascope arrived, but other than that very little else has changed.

When you reach the screen and turn around you can then really appreciate the beauty of this little cinema, with its curved balcony and all its art deco decoration.

Up at the back of the balcony you can see the three private boxes, used by the rich and famous of the time including Paris Singer (son of Isaac Merritt Singer of sewing machine fame), who would be accompanied by his mistress Isadora Duncan, and it is rumoured that Edward, Duke of Windsor, and Mrs Simpson used the boxes whilst courting in Torquay.

We also must not forget the most famous patron of all, Agatha Christie. She would often visit the Picture House and would sit in row two, seat two, in the circle. In many of her books, whenever the Gaiety Cinema is mentioned it is actually the Paignton Picture House that she is speaking of.