Cornerhouse Cinemas

Manchester, England

70 Oxford Street, Oxford Road Station Approach

, Manchester, England, United Kingdom M1 5NH

(map)

+44.0.161.200.1500

Status:	Open
Screens:	Triplex
Style:	Art Deco

Function:	Movies (First Run), Movies (Foreign), Movies (Independent)
Seats:	530
Chain:	Independent

Architect:	Peter Cummings
Firm:	Unknown

Recent view of the Cornerhouse's primary cinema and its curvy facade

Photo courtesy of Ian Grundy

The Cornerhouse began life as a replacement cinema for the Whitworth Street Electric Theatre (later Majestic) which opened in 1911 and was demolished in 1934.

The Tatler News Theatre, designed by Peter Cummings, opened in May 1935 with a seating capacity of 300. Sited next to Oxford Road Railway Station the Tatler was in an ideal site for its 'drop-in' program of cartoons and news-reels, and this lasted until September 1959.

After lying closed for a while, it was reopened in November 1961 as the Tatler Classic with a programme of art house and foreign language films which was successful until in 1969 it moved to a more erotic fare as the Tatler Cinema Club showing uncensored films to club members.

These kept the projectors rolling until closure came again in August 1981.

Across the narrow pathway to the station was a furniture shop which, in 1985, was bought to be converted into an arts complex of 2 cinemas seating 170 and 60, galleries, café and bookshop. It was quickly realised that the former news theatre would make the best and largest screen of the complex and was thus acquired refurbished and reopened on 11 October 1985.

It is now enjoying the most popular and successful period of its life, the three Cornerhouse Cinemas as they are collectively known have an enterprising programming policy and loyal audience.

A full refurbishment was carried out in 1997, comfort and excellent technical facilities are paramount. Long may they continue.

Related Websites

Cornerhouse Cinemas (Official)

Contributed by Ian Grundy

YOUR COMMENTS

October 1999 night view of the Cornerhouse Cinemas here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/ic14/19.jpg

posted by KenRoe on Sep 11, 2005 at 9:32am

Due to the relaxation of the Licensing Laws in England and Wales which are due to come into force in November 2005, the Cornerhouse Cinemas have become the first cinema in England to be granted a 24 hours Drinking Licence to serve alcoholic drinks 24/7.

Of course making it legal doesn't mean it will happen and the managment have stated that drinks will be normally only be served during regular cinema operating hours. It's nice to think you can get a drink at 3am after a late night movie has finished and chat to friends in the cinema bar. Most civilised....and about time too.

posted by KenRoe on Oct 16, 2005 at 5:36am

A photograph of the No. 1 screen in the Cornerhouse Cinema, Manchester:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/53791439/in/pool-cinemasignage/

posted by KenRoe on Oct 25, 2005 at 4:39am

when i started college in manchester in 1985 im sure that i remember this cinema being a derelict porn theatre, painted grubby pink and possibly called the pussycat, can anyone confirm this, id like to think it was true...lol

posted by woody on Dec 5, 2005 at 5:48am

Here is a recent photo of the Cornerhouse Cinemas.

posted by Lost Memory on Jun 17, 2007 at 2:55pm

Cornerhouse website.

posted by Lost Memory on Apr 16, 2008 at 7:59pm

This is a June 2008 exterior view.

posted by Lost Memory on Jul 2, 2008 at 6:59pm

here is an ariel shot of the two Cornerhouse buildings taken around 1994 from my office, it was before the glass wall makeover of the main cinema.
in the distance you can see the BBC building and next to it the bulky pitched roof of the Regal Twin (now Dancehouse theatre)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3535840808/sizes/l/

posted by woody on May 16, 2009 at 6:08am

Two more photos taken in October 2009:

Exterior of the former news theatre
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4048829313/

Interior of Screen 2 in the main block
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4048829457/

posted by Ian on Oct 27, 2009 at 1:53am

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