Built c1848, the Marlborough Rooms at 309 Regent Street were the venue for magic lantern shows in the 1860s, were chosen by the Lumiere brothers in 1896 to demonstrate their cinematograph, and have hosted festivals featuring internationally renowned directors. The entrance design dates from 1911 and the auditorium's design and decoration from 1928. In summer 2002 its plaster ceiling partially collapsed - the auditorium has undergone emergency repairs funded by HEFCE. However funding does not cover street entrance access, projection equipment, nor disabled provision. The University intends to restore the cinema entrance, providing full disabled access; upgrade the facilities to provide an easily accessible venue for film screening for disadvantaged groups.

The Compton cinema organ was installed in the Regent Street Polytechnic's Cameo Cinema in 1936. It is one of only 261 Compton cinema organs that are known to have been installed across the UK, and is one of only three such instruments in London remaining in its original location. The organ fell into disrepair following a building accident in the 1990s, and the former cinema, still affectionately termed the Old Cinema within the University, currently serves as a lecture theatre and a staging hall for some of the institution's  important events. The organ's original purpose was to accompany silent films and as such, it has a full range of the usual sound effects and percussion, including, cymbals and castanets. It also includes a real glockenspiel, vibraphone, xylophone and tubular chimes, with all the effects and percussion instruments being operated pneumatically via electric valves switched from the organ console.
Peter Hammond of HWS Associates carried out the work over a six month period, fitting the restoration in around a busy lecture schedule. He was recommended to the University after his successful restoration of the Catford Broadway Theatre organ.