A team representing the Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness picked up a top award this week.

The historic picture palace was presented with the community benefit prize at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) Scotland Awards for 2011.

The cinema was also commended in the building conservation category, at a champagne reception and lunch in Edinburgh.

Hippodrome representatives from Falkirk Council, Linlithgow architects Pollock Hammond, and Hippodrome owners, the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, collected a trophy and framed certificate at the awards’ event.

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This is the latest honour for the restored cinema, which was re-opened in 2009, following a £2 million revamp.

Falkirk and District Arts and Civic Council gave the building a prize soon after it opened. Last year it was recognised in the Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards.

The Hippodrome also made the final 11 in Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award for 2010, organised by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

For the latest honour, operators Falkirk Council teamed up with the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, highlighting:

• increased footfall in Bo’ness, thanks to the cinema;

• the 40,000 people it had attracted in the first two years since it re-opened; and

• the regular engagement with audiences, including special community events.

The head of the RICS judging panel, Laura Johnstone, said: “The Hippodrome restoration is a perfect example of how bringing a building back into use can really benefit the local community.”

(GK)