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January 16, 2026

How Montrose Port Authority Helps Make Christmas Brighter for Local School Pupils

As a trust port, Montrose Port Authority is committed to giving back to the local community in Montrose and the wider Angus area. Throughout the year we support a number of charities and local causes, but one initiative that really warms our heart every December is our annual primary school Christmas cinema trips.

A group of children and a few adults sit in colourful, cushioned seats inside a dimly lit cinema during one of the Montrose Port cinema trips. Several people hold popcorn and drinks, and most are looking towards the camera.
Southesk Primary

For the last three years, we’ve treated every primary school pupil from all six of Montrose’s  primary schools to a festive visit to Montrose Playhouse, spreading a little bit of Christmas cheer to all children in the community and showing our support for our local schools.

The cinema trips aren’t just about the magic of the movies as we understand that Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for many families in our area. No child should go without joy at Christmas – that’s why we invite every single Montrose primary school pupil to come along, and we hope to put a smile on each of their faces at a time of year which can be challenging for many.

The pupils get a choice of films to watch, and this year choices included 2023’s Wonka – a reimagining of the classic Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas. These magical films were perfect for this special time of year, featuring lots of laughs, catchy songs, and touching stories of friendship. On top of the film, every pupil was treated to some snacks and juice, completing the cinema experience.

These trips are made even more special as they also support a local grassroots organisation – The Montrose Playhouse, a cinema and charity which was built in the town’s former swimming pool following an incredible fundraising effort and construction project that was spear-headed by a group of local volunteers. We have been the Playhouse’s box office sponsor since its grand opening in 2021, showing our support for their mission to bring arts, culture and heritage to everyone in the area through their wide range of community screenings and events, including the latest blockbusters.

We extended our sponsorship in 2023, becoming the sponsor of all community screenings. These screenings cater to various groups, including new parents, those with dementia, individuals with sensory difficulties or learning impairments, those who are deaf or hard of hearing, individuals over 60, and those from low-income households. 

The primary school Christmas cinema trips wouldn’t be possible without the team at Montrose Playhouse and the brilliant teachers and staff who accompany the pupils on these trips. We’d like to thank them for giving up their time to ensure the continued provision of these visits and the difference that they make.

Each school has been in touch with photos and we even received a short highlight video of one of the visits as well as some lovely hand-drawn thank you cards. We appreciate all the schools sending these to us and are glad that all the pupils and staff enjoyed their Christmas trips. Take a look at the gallery below:

A collection of handmade thank you cards with drawings, mostly featuring boats, water, and flags. One card is open, showing a handwritten note thanking Montrose Port workers for watching ships and keeping children safe during cinema trips.
Seven children in jackets are seated in colourful theatre chairs, each holding snacks and looking towards the camera. The dark background suggests an indoor setting, likely Montrose Port Cinema, capturing the fun of group cinema trips.
Four children sit closely together against a dark background, perhaps reminiscing about cinema trips or days at Montrose Port. Three wear winter coats, one has antler headbands, and all are smiling or making playful, thumbs-up gestures.
A group of children sit on a bench indoors, facing the camera. Some are wearing jackets, and one has reindeer antlers—perhaps excited after Montrose Port cinema trips. Digital screens with posters line the wall behind them.
A group of children sit in colourful, numbered theatre seats at Montrose Port, smiling and facing the camera during one of their cinema trips. The theatre rows are mostly empty except for the children spread across different rows.
A group of children and a few adults in matching blue uniforms enjoy Montrose Port cinema trips, sitting in colourful theatre seats, facing the camera and smiling in the dimly lit room.
An assortment of hand-drawn thank you cards by primary school students. The designs include pictures of vessels, Scurdie Ness lighthouse and the Montrose Port logo.
A group of children wearing blue hoodies are sitting in several rows of colourful seats inside Montrose Port Cinema, many giving thumbs up and smiling at the camera during one of their exciting cinema trips.
A group of children sit in colourful theatre seats during one of their Montrose Port Cinema trips, some holding snacks and drinks. Most are smiling at the camera, while one child’s face is covered with a smiling emoji.
Three children enjoy snacks in theatre seats at Montrose Port Cinema, sharing smiles and a striped popcorn bag. Another child, dressed in a red jumper and yellow trousers, sits behind them. Coats and bags are scattered on nearby seats during their cinema trip.

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