Embassy Cinema

Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales

Tondu Road

, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom CF31 4JA

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Art Deco

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	1324
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	David Evelyn Nye
Firm:	Unknown

A large building sitting in the centre of Bridgend town, the back of which can clearly be seen from the mainline railway.

It opened as the Embassy Cinema on 30th October 1939 with Lloyd Nolan in "Ambush" and Pat O'Brien in "Off the Record". It advertised itself as 'South Wales Newest Super Cinema'. Designed in an Art deco style, the facade is mainly brick, with a row of windows over the entrance, above which are four slender bands in white stone. Inside the auditorium seating was provided in stalls and circle levels. There was a decorative surround to the 33 feet wide rectangular proscenium. The Embassy Cinema was independently operated by the Issacs family. The Embassy had a large car park and a cycle park for the convenience of its patrons.

By 1980 it had been sold to Wyndham Lewis, on the proviso that cinema use continued. Pop shows began to be staged as well as normal film performances. Bingo was also introduced 3 nights a week.

It was later sold to Nudge Leisure Ltd. and re-named Ritz Cinema. The Ritz was short lived and it closed as a cinema on 9th May 1987 and was refurbished to re-open as the Ritz Bingo Club. Bingo continued until closing in 1999 when a new purpose built bingo hall opened in the town. The building had remained unaltered, apart from the installation of a false ceiling in the foyer and remains a fine example of the work of noted architect David Evelyn Nye.

By the summer of 2001 it was being used for storage by a builders merchants and later that year an application was made to convert the building into a bar, but the local council had earmarked the site for car parking.

Contributed by ian Howells, Ken Roe

YOUR COMMENTS

Two photographs of the closed-up Embassy Cinema building in October 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/7779924@N05/1800149843/
http://flickr.com/photos/7779924@N05/1801090592/

posted by KenRoe on Sep 3, 2008 at 2:22pm

Is the building due to come down soon then?

posted by Ian -'adoraKiaOra on Sep 7, 2008 at 10:03am

Here is a 2009 photo. It appears that the building is still standing and cars just park near the building. Maybe it won't be torn down for a parking lot.

posted by Lost Memory on Jan 20, 2009 at 12:43pm

Circa 1964, the cinema possessed a pair of Ross Stream Light Arcs that were considered a projectionists nightmare. It was difficult to get an even carbon feed whilst the copper splashes from the rods continually pitted the mirrors.

posted by Editha Pearce on Mar 28, 2009 at 4:05am

Another example of a fine cinema that has been left to rot. The Arts Council of Wales together with the local authority could surely remodel this venue to meet the needs and demand of modern day arts and media type community venues?

Are there any interior photographs?

I believe that this might be the last surviving cinema by the distinguished architect David Evelyn Nye.

And the local authority wants to turn it into a car park, what are they thinking!

posted by jmbrighton on Nov 25, 2009 at 10:34am

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