Activities

The Birks Cinema is not just about film. It is also a thriving community hub and events venue, delivering a regular programme of community activities ranging from gaelic cafe to chair-based exercise to acoustic music sessions that anyone can join in.


  • Which do you prefer? To read the book then watch the film… or the other way round?

    Join in the chat with our Book & Film Blethers group to see a film screening based on a novel or short story followed by an informal discussion over a drink on the second Thursday of every month. All welcome! 


    Look out for the start time of the film as it may not always be at the same time....and remember that we meet to chat after the film ends in the café.
    • Sun, Jan 5th
      19:00 - 21:30

    • Sun, Jan 5th
      19:00 - 21:30

    • Sun, Jan 5th
      19:00 - 21:30

    • Sun, Jan 5th
      19:00 - 21:30

    • Sun, Jan 5th
      19:00 - 21:30

  • Do you love playing board games? If so, come along on a Friday night and try out our games selection or bring your own favourite and teach us. It’s a great place for people who enjoy meeting friends, family, new folk or colleagues to share fun.

    So far we’ve tried classics like dominoes and backgammon and some new ones like:

    - Rummikub: Tile combinations are placed on a board with the goal of being the first player to run out of tiles

    - Bananagrams: a word game where lettered tiles are used to spell words

    - Exploding Kittens: A card game with kittens, explosions, laser beams and sometimes goats!

    - Pandemic: A cooperative board game based on the premise that four diseases have broken out in the world, each threatening to wipe out a region

    Also look out for:

    - Miniature wargaming: players enact battles between opposing military forces that are represented by miniature physical models

    - Ticket to Ride: Build tracks between cities before others block the way

    - Sequence: an abstract strategy board-and-card game


    • Fri, Dec 13th
      17:00 - 19:00

    • Fri, Dec 13th
      17:00 - 19:00

    • Fri, Dec 13th
      17:00 - 19:00

    • Fri, Dec 13th
      17:00 - 19:00

    • Fri, Dec 13th
      17:00 - 19:00


  • Join us for a couple of hours on Monday afternoons with your latest knitting project - or if  you'd like to learn how to knit there will be expert help on hand! 



    Bring your own materials. All welcome. 
    • Mon, Dec 9th
      13:00 - 15:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      13:00 - 15:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      13:00 - 15:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      13:00 - 15:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      13:00 - 15:00

  • Come along to our friendly Chess Night for some games of chess. All levels and ages are welcome and you don't have to have a chess partner to join in. 

    Feel free to bring along your own chess board if it is easily portable. Grab some tasty refreshments from the cafe and play away! 

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      17:00 - 19:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      17:00 - 19:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      17:00 - 19:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      17:00 - 19:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      17:00 - 19:00


  • We love to share Scotland’s musical heritage - one of the foundations of our identity and culture. We’re lucky in Highland Perthshire to have a wealth of musical talent connecting us to the places and memories we cherish. Here at The Birks, we are proud to provide a place for musicians of all levels to gather and play together on a weekly basis. 

    Join us every Thursday from 7-10pm - with or without an instrument!

    Our acoustic music sessions feature Celtic classics, traditional tunes and renditions of many all-time favourite melodies on the cafe mezzanine level (fully accessible).

    Local performers are joined by guest musicians for laid-back evenings of music and song. Feel free to bring your instrument and join in, or come to watch and listen. 

    Our Cafe Bar is open for you to enjoy a drink or light bite during the session

    No booking needed - just turn up - entrance is free! 


    • Thu, Dec 12th
      19:00 - 22:00

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      19:00 - 22:00

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      19:00 - 22:00

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      19:00 - 22:00

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      19:00 - 22:00



  • Join in our friendly drop-in Craic ‘n’ Craft afternoons – bring along your favourite craft or learn a new one!

    Enjoy a good blether over a cup of tea while working on your current creative project or contribute to a group project in the company of fellow craft fans. A great way to share ideas, learning and skills and maybe even try out a new craft.

    There’s always a supply of wool, knitting needles, crochet hooks, fabric, rag-rugging tools and other materials to share… so you can get crafty in good company!

    Every Thursday from 2-4pm on the mezzanine level (fully accessible)
    • Thu, Dec 12th
      14:00 - 16:00

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      14:00 - 16:00

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      14:00 - 16:00

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      14:00 - 16:00

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      14:00 - 16:00

  • Our Lego Animation Club for youngsters with Additional Support Needs is a popular after-school creative activity.

    Led by experienced practitioners and supported by enthusiastic adult and young volunteers (aged 15-17) – trained in animation skills by Edinburgh’s Animation Jam team – the group is helped to bring their ideas to life using Lego models and ipads.

    … And the finished animations will be enjoyed by cinemagoers on the big screen – hopefully inspiring some future movie animators!

    Please note this activity is held during term time only.

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      16:45 - 17:45

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      16:45 - 17:45

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      16:45 - 17:45

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      16:45 - 17:45

    • Thu, Dec 12th
      16:45 - 17:45

  • Enjoy a great start to the week with our Chair-based Exercise sessions - a yoga-based activity set to music.

    The class is run by an experienced yoga instructor – Emma Burtles – providing a gently stimulating exercise session to help keep body and mind active with all the associated physical and social benefits.

    Attended by a friendly group of mainly senior citizens – men & women – all ages are welcome. We try to make transport available to help make sure everyone who needs a lift is able to attend through our local community volunteer network.

    Held on the mezzanine level, which is fully accessible


    • Mon, Dec 9th
      11:30 - 12:15

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      11:30 - 12:15

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      11:30 - 12:15

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      11:30 - 12:15

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      11:30 - 12:15

  • Traditional, contemporary, unique, bespoke Scottish gifts and presents from in and around beautiful Highland Perthshire.
    • Sun, Apr 6th
      10:00 - 14:00

    • Sun, Apr 6th
      10:00 - 14:00

  • Join in our monthly Screening of a Climate related film and the opportunity to stay behind afterwards to chat about it,
    • Mon, Jan 27th
      18:30 - 20:30

    • Mon, Jan 27th
      18:30 - 20:30

    • Mon, Jan 27th
      18:30 - 20:30

    • Mon, Jan 27th
      18:30 - 20:30

    • Mon, Jan 27th
      18:30 - 20:30

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      16:00 - 17:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      16:00 - 17:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      16:00 - 17:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      16:00 - 17:00

    • Mon, Dec 9th
      16:00 - 17:00

Monday, December 9th

Thursday, December 12th

Friday, December 13th

Monday, December 16th

Thursday, December 19th

Friday, December 20th

Monday, December 23rd

Thursday, December 26th

Friday, December 27th

Monday, December 30th

Friday, January 3rd

Sunday, January 5th

Monday, January 6th

Thursday, January 9th

Friday, January 10th

Monday, January 13th

Thursday, January 16th

Friday, January 17th

Monday, January 20th

Thursday, January 23rd

Friday, January 24th

Monday, January 27th

Thursday, January 30th

Friday, January 31st

Sunday, February 2nd

Monday, February 3rd

Thursday, February 6th

Friday, February 7th

Monday, February 10th

Thursday, February 13th

Friday, February 14th

Monday, February 17th

Thursday, February 20th

Friday, February 21st

Monday, February 24th

Thursday, February 27th

Friday, February 28th

Sunday, March 2nd

Monday, March 3rd

Thursday, March 6th

Friday, March 7th

Monday, March 10th

Thursday, March 13th

Friday, March 14th

Monday, March 17th

Thursday, March 20th

Friday, March 21st

Monday, March 24th

Thursday, March 27th

Friday, March 28th

Monday, March 31st

Thursday, April 3rd

Friday, April 4th

Sunday, April 6th

Monday, April 7th

Thursday, April 10th

Friday, April 11th

Monday, April 14th

Thursday, April 17th

Friday, April 18th

Monday, April 21st

Thursday, April 24th

Friday, April 25th

Monday, April 28th

Thursday, May 1st

Friday, May 2nd

Sunday, May 4th

Monday, May 5th

Thursday, May 8th

Friday, May 9th

Monday, May 12th

Thursday, May 15th

Friday, May 16th

Monday, May 19th

Thursday, May 22nd

Friday, May 23rd

Monday, May 26th