The couple’s first date took place at the Picture House a decade ago
18:58, 25 Dec 2025Updated 20:21, 25 Dec 2025
Jacob Molloy proposed to his partner of 10 years at Woolton Picture House
A trip to the cinema at Woolton Picture House turned into an unforgettable moment when a man proposed to his partner of 10 years on the big screen. Jacob Molloy popped the question to partner Lucy during a special Christmas Eve screening of It’s a Wonderful Life at the nearly 100-year-old cinema.
The moment marked a full-circle moment for the couple, whose first date took place at the Picture House a decade ago. The surprise proposal was planned in collaboration with the cinema’s team and drew inspiration from the famous ‘cards on the doorstep’ scene from Love Actually.
As the screening finished, Jacob appeared on the big screen, where he revealed a series of handwritten cards before asking Lucy to marry him. The proposal was met with an eruption of cheers from fellow cinema-goers, and Lucy’s emotional “yes” was later described as a “magical moment” during one of the venue’s festive screenings.
The engagement took place during the Picture House’s ’12 Days of Christmas’ fundraising programme, which saw the historic cinema reopen temporarily over the festive period. More than 7,000 ticket-holders attended the limited run of screenings, with additional supporters donating online to help secure the building’s future.
The cinema pictured in 2023(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
The festive reopening forms part of an ongoing campaign to raise £700,000 to purchase Woolton Picture House and restore it as a community-owned cultural venue. Plans include hosting film screenings, live performances and local events for future generations.
Built in 1927, Woolton Picture House is Liverpool’s oldest surviving cinema and the city’s only remaining single-screen picture house. For Jacob and Lucy, and thousands of others, it continues to be a place where memories are made.
The ECHO has closely followed the story of the picture house’s closure and attempts to revive it. The cinema’s owner announced that it would close for good in July 2020, having suffered a loss of business due to the pandemic.
However, it was saved from permanent closure by a GoFundMe campaign and the government’s culture recovery fund, which was designed to support arts venues during coronavirus lockdowns.
In May, the ECHO reported that a married couple agreed a deal to buy the venue. Kevin Fearon, 64, and Gillian Miller, 63, who live near Calderstones Park, have agreed to purchase the building from its current owner and intend to reopen it as a cinema.
Contracts have been exchanged with the current owner to purchase the building for £450,000. A Community Interest Company (CIC) has been set up to raise funds for the purchase and a further £250,000 for a refurbishment. Combined, this means that £700,000 is required.
A deposit has been paid and the deal is scheduled to be completed in May 2026. The cinema will reopen if the CIC can raise the required funds.