Closed for refurbishment just prior to the pandemic, and re-opened in May 2022. It now calls itself The Grosvenor Picture Theatre. The two small auditoria, which were in contemporary style when it was drastically remodelled in 2003, have been completely redesigned in a retro barrel-vaulted Edwardian style very similar to the same operator’s Scotsman Picturehouse in Edinburgh. Alas, this conversion seems to have removed the projection boxes and replaced them with an upper seating level, with roof-mounted digital projectors above.
When I was there in 2010, the stalls was disused and appeared to have most recently been a social club. The bingo was in a remodelled balcony area which had been reprofiled with terraced seating and a new suspended ceiling. Some of the old ceiling coving and the top of the proscenium arch was still visible.
On 25th September 2020, Mecca Bingo announced on the Rutherglen venue’s Facebook page that it was to permanently close the bingo hall. It appears that it did not re-open following lockdown earlier in the year.
Appears to have re-opened in June 2019 as an antiques store called Bruce of Ballater. Looks like the fairly plain interior has been subdivided horizontally to provide two floors of accommodation space for the shop. Exterior has been tidied up with a lick of paint.
A third screen opened at the end of November 2013, replacing what was Cafe Cosmo. This small 60-seat auditorium is contemporary in style but nicely complements the building’s original 1930s aesthetic with its use of dark wood and black leather. A few years after Screen 3 opened, the public areas were also revamped, with the restoration of the twin stair from the foyer (one side had previously been lost to alterations to insert a mezzanine bar into the double height foyer in the late 60s). A small new serving counter was also built to partially replace the lost Cafe, as well as improvements to the mezzanine bar, toilets and education/office spaces.
Recently picked up series 1 of 70s UK police series The Professionals. A large portion of one episode, Look After Annie, was shot in the Regal Uxbridge at the end of November 1977, seemingly just a few weeks after it closed as a cinema. There are numerous interior shots of both the auditorium and dressing rooms, which is the setting of a political speech in the episode, as well as some exteriors to the rear of the building. Worth picking up the newly restored Blu-ray of this series just to see this splendid cinema before it was altered inside!
The building is now complete. Although only the facade remains, it sports a nice illuminated Olympia sign above the entrance, and a display on the building’s history just inside the entrance. It houses Bridgeton Library and a cafe on the ground floor, with offices above – including the home of Scotland’s amateur boxing and wrestling associations. The library also houses Scotland’s first BFI Mediatheque, where the public can view a vast selection of BFI archive material, as well as films from the Scottish Screen Archive – so another nice cinema connection.
The 2008 pub plans were abandoned and the building put up for sale, but there were no takers. Wetherspoon’s have now changed their mind and decided to go ahead with the pub plan, and a fresh planning application was lodged in August 2013.
Now named The Hillhead Bookclub, the venue continues as a bar with a slightly quirky theme, reflecting the bohemian student neighbourhood in which it lies. The decoration has been altered to that of shabby industrial chic, and the false window in the former screen area has been removed, exposing the bare wall face beneath. Nonetheless, most of the decorated plasterwork on the ceiling is still visible.
The casino is now called Mint. No trace of the former cinema is evident, as it appears that the small auditorium block was replaced by a much larger structure for the ballroom. The ballroom also appears to have gone by several later names, including Tiffany’s.
The nightclub, Jumpin' Jaks, which was in the upper half of the auditorium, closed in late 2008. The restaurant in the former cafe had already closed by this time, meaning that the brutal subdivision of what was possibly the best preserved art deco cinema in Scotland was all for only two to three years of leisure use.
Photographic surveys can be found on an urban exploration website:
Although the decision to allow demolition has been passed by Edinburgh City Council, the final say on Listed Building Consent has still to be passed by heritage body Historic Scotland.
A new electronic petition was launched yesterday to try to push for Historic Scotland to refuse this application.
In less than 24 hours, it has collected 500+ signatures, the majority of which seem to be from Edinburgh residents themselves keen to see the building re-used as some kind of cultural or leisure venue, which would be much more sympathetic to the historic fabric of the building than a boutique hotel. It’s situated in a slightly rundown area of the city, and such a cultural or arts venue would be an excellent anchor for regeneration – and would give much mroe back to the community than any commercial hotel enterprise would offer.
You can find the petition here, please take a moment to sign:
Sadly, the destructive plans were passed, although by a closely split vote of 6-4. Many organisations, such as the CTA and the Theatres Trust, will be requesting that the decision be called-in by Historic Scotland for a possible public inquiry.
The New Victoria is under very serious threat now – the planning application submitted in January 2008 which involved demolition of the interior of the auditorium block for a hotel is due to be discussed by the City of Edinburgh Council planning committee on Wed 29th October. The planning officer in charge of the case is recommending that the application be granted, but the councillors on the planning committee may vote against this recommendation – although this is very rare indeed. We are trying to lobby those councillors by emailing them before Wednesday morning to remind them of the importance of the cinema in a national context. We would be very grateful if others could do so too. Their names are printed below, and their email addresses take the form .uk Many thanks for your time.
Jim Lowrie
Charles Dundas
Elaine Morris
Gary Peacock
Marjorie Thomas
Colin Keir
Stuart McIvor
Rob Munn
Lesley Hinds
Norma Hart
Eric Milligan
Joanna Mowat
Cameron Rose
Alastair Paisley
Steve Burgess
Now completely demolished after being served with a dangerous buildings notice due to the structural problems, see the first link I posted above for photos of the work in progress – the only thing salvaged was one of the prancing deer stained glass windows, which was in surprisingly good condition.
This has been closed for a few years now after it was discovered that the building did not meet modern licensing requirements for a theatre. It was latterly run by Queen Margaret University. Planning permission has been granted for redevelopment behind a retained facade, but this does not appear to have been started.
The Caley re-opens this month as a live music venue and club called The Picture House, run by the MAMA Group. The gaudy pink interior scheme and intrusive bars appear to have been removed for this more sympathetic use.
Closed for refurbishment just prior to the pandemic, and re-opened in May 2022. It now calls itself The Grosvenor Picture Theatre. The two small auditoria, which were in contemporary style when it was drastically remodelled in 2003, have been completely redesigned in a retro barrel-vaulted Edwardian style very similar to the same operator’s Scotsman Picturehouse in Edinburgh. Alas, this conversion seems to have removed the projection boxes and replaced them with an upper seating level, with roof-mounted digital projectors above.
When I was there in 2010, the stalls was disused and appeared to have most recently been a social club. The bingo was in a remodelled balcony area which had been reprofiled with terraced seating and a new suspended ceiling. Some of the old ceiling coving and the top of the proscenium arch was still visible.
On 25th September 2020, Mecca Bingo announced on the Rutherglen venue’s Facebook page that it was to permanently close the bingo hall. It appears that it did not re-open following lockdown earlier in the year.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/popular-rutherglen-bingo-hall-closes-22731320
Appears to have re-opened in June 2019 as an antiques store called Bruce of Ballater. Looks like the fairly plain interior has been subdivided horizontally to provide two floors of accommodation space for the shop. Exterior has been tidied up with a lick of paint.
A third screen opened at the end of November 2013, replacing what was Cafe Cosmo. This small 60-seat auditorium is contemporary in style but nicely complements the building’s original 1930s aesthetic with its use of dark wood and black leather. A few years after Screen 3 opened, the public areas were also revamped, with the restoration of the twin stair from the foyer (one side had previously been lost to alterations to insert a mezzanine bar into the double height foyer in the late 60s). A small new serving counter was also built to partially replace the lost Cafe, as well as improvements to the mezzanine bar, toilets and education/office spaces.
This cinema closed on 28th June 2018. Bingo continues in the former stalls area.
Recently picked up series 1 of 70s UK police series The Professionals. A large portion of one episode, Look After Annie, was shot in the Regal Uxbridge at the end of November 1977, seemingly just a few weeks after it closed as a cinema. There are numerous interior shots of both the auditorium and dressing rooms, which is the setting of a political speech in the episode, as well as some exteriors to the rear of the building. Worth picking up the newly restored Blu-ray of this series just to see this splendid cinema before it was altered inside!
The building is now complete. Although only the facade remains, it sports a nice illuminated Olympia sign above the entrance, and a display on the building’s history just inside the entrance. It houses Bridgeton Library and a cafe on the ground floor, with offices above – including the home of Scotland’s amateur boxing and wrestling associations. The library also houses Scotland’s first BFI Mediatheque, where the public can view a vast selection of BFI archive material, as well as films from the Scottish Screen Archive – so another nice cinema connection.
The 2008 pub plans were abandoned and the building put up for sale, but there were no takers. Wetherspoon’s have now changed their mind and decided to go ahead with the pub plan, and a fresh planning application was lodged in August 2013.
Now demolished.
Now named The Hillhead Bookclub, the venue continues as a bar with a slightly quirky theme, reflecting the bohemian student neighbourhood in which it lies. The decoration has been altered to that of shabby industrial chic, and the false window in the former screen area has been removed, exposing the bare wall face beneath. Nonetheless, most of the decorated plasterwork on the ceiling is still visible.
Some pics from 2007 here:
View link
Now a bar and club complex called Zico’s.
The casino is now called Mint. No trace of the former cinema is evident, as it appears that the small auditorium block was replaced by a much larger structure for the ballroom. The ballroom also appears to have gone by several later names, including Tiffany’s.
The nightclub, Jumpin' Jaks, which was in the upper half of the auditorium, closed in late 2008. The restaurant in the former cafe had already closed by this time, meaning that the brutal subdivision of what was possibly the best preserved art deco cinema in Scotland was all for only two to three years of leisure use.
Photographic surveys can be found on an urban exploration website:
Jumpin' Jaks (upper half of auditorium):
View link
Restaurant (former cafe area):
View link
Shortly after opening as a live music venue in September 2008, it was renamed the HMV Picture House, following a new sponsorship deal.
Now called the O2 Academy after a change of sponsorship.
Now pretty much almost gone, gallery charting the demolition work can be found here:
View link
I can see no reason why the tower and facade couldn’t have been retained other than people taking the lazy, easy option of complete demolition.
Although the decision to allow demolition has been passed by Edinburgh City Council, the final say on Listed Building Consent has still to be passed by heritage body Historic Scotland.
A new electronic petition was launched yesterday to try to push for Historic Scotland to refuse this application.
In less than 24 hours, it has collected 500+ signatures, the majority of which seem to be from Edinburgh residents themselves keen to see the building re-used as some kind of cultural or leisure venue, which would be much more sympathetic to the historic fabric of the building than a boutique hotel. It’s situated in a slightly rundown area of the city, and such a cultural or arts venue would be an excellent anchor for regeneration – and would give much mroe back to the community than any commercial hotel enterprise would offer.
You can find the petition here, please take a moment to sign:
View link
Thank You
Sadly, the destructive plans were passed, although by a closely split vote of 6-4. Many organisations, such as the CTA and the Theatres Trust, will be requesting that the decision be called-in by Historic Scotland for a possible public inquiry.
The New Victoria is under very serious threat now – the planning application submitted in January 2008 which involved demolition of the interior of the auditorium block for a hotel is due to be discussed by the City of Edinburgh Council planning committee on Wed 29th October. The planning officer in charge of the case is recommending that the application be granted, but the councillors on the planning committee may vote against this recommendation – although this is very rare indeed. We are trying to lobby those councillors by emailing them before Wednesday morning to remind them of the importance of the cinema in a national context. We would be very grateful if others could do so too. Their names are printed below, and their email addresses take the form .uk Many thanks for your time.
Jim Lowrie
Charles Dundas
Elaine Morris
Gary Peacock
Marjorie Thomas
Colin Keir
Stuart McIvor
Rob Munn
Lesley Hinds
Norma Hart
Eric Milligan
Joanna Mowat
Cameron Rose
Alastair Paisley
Steve Burgess
Now completely demolished after being served with a dangerous buildings notice due to the structural problems, see the first link I posted above for photos of the work in progress – the only thing salvaged was one of the prancing deer stained glass windows, which was in surprisingly good condition.
This has been closed for a few years now after it was discovered that the building did not meet modern licensing requirements for a theatre. It was latterly run by Queen Margaret University. Planning permission has been granted for redevelopment behind a retained facade, but this does not appear to have been started.
More pics and info here
Photos and a wee bit of history here
The listing was upgraded to Category B in 2008 as part of Historic Scotland’s cinema thematic re-survey.
The Caley re-opens this month as a live music venue and club called The Picture House, run by the MAMA Group. The gaudy pink interior scheme and intrusive bars appear to have been removed for this more sympathetic use.
http://www.mamagroup.co.uk/picturehouse/