Entertainment in Dumfries

With the Odeon complex closing in 2018, the Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre is the main cinema for 30 miles. The 69-seat venue only has one screen, but it shows several films each day ranging from new blockbusters to more alternative film classics. The centre is located on the western bank of the River Nith in the heart of Dumfries, with a small café and shop selling the usual array of sweets and drinks.

Founded in 1919, the Queen of the South Football Club – also known as the Doonhamers or Queens – currently play in the Scottish Championship, the second tier of the Scottish league. They’ve been in the top tier several times and reached their first Scottish Cup final in 2008 when they lost out to Rangers.

Home games are played at the 8,000-capacity ground Palmerston Park, which is a mix of seats and terraced standing. The ground, which is located to the north of the town centre, has also hosted several big-name bands in recent years, including Status Quo and Big Country.

Appropriately located on Shakespeare Street on the eastern edge of Dumfries, the 225-year-old Theatre Royal is an important cultural institution in Dumfries, putting on a wide range of programming including opera, ballet, classical music, comedy, plays, musicals, tribute nights, live music and more. The 200-capacity theatre is made up of a large balcony and the stalls. The Bankend Bar & Brasserie offers a range of two and three-course pre-theatre menus, while the Crumb bar and café is open for drinks and snacks. Handily, the theatre is just a five-minute drive from our Dumfries hotel.