Not a member yet? Register now.

Search

Theaters News Links

Advanced search
 

Theater Guide

Now listing 28,054 theaters & 1,598 photos… more
Browse by...
• Architect
• Chain
• Firm
• Function
• Location
• Newest
• Photo
• Screens
• Seats
• Status
• Style
• Updated
• VR
 

Add Your Cinema Treasure!

Add Theater
Add Photo (offline)
Add Theater News
 

Newest Theaters

Mar 20 Carver Theatre
Mar 20 Bama Drive-In
Mar 20 Lincoln Theatre
Mar 20 Azalea Theatre
Mar 20 Ace Theatre
Mar 20 Unique Theatre
Mar 20 Locke Theatre
Mar 20 Strand Theatre
Mar 20 Jackson Theatre
Mar 20 Movies 4
more new theaters
 

Recent Comments

Mar 21 Picture Show at… (28)
Mar 21 Airview Drive-In (12)
Mar 21 OK Theater (4)
Mar 21 Bee Gee Drive-In (3)
Mar 21 Teepee Drive-In (9)
Mar 21 Circus Drive-In (4)
Mar 21 Electric Theatre (3)
Mar 21 Electric Theatre (2)
Mar 21 Dive Inn Theater (11)
Mar 21 Will Rogers… (13)
 

Updated Theaters

Mar 21 Drive-In
Mar 21 Columbia Classics…
Mar 21 City Hall Theatre
Mar 21 Cineplex Theatre
Mar 21 Cinemetro
Mar 21 Cinematograph…
Mar 21 Cinema Riviera
Mar 21 Cine Art House
Mar 21 Chung Wah Theatre
Mar 21 Chung King Theatre
more updated theaters
 
 
   Discover. Preserve. Protect.
Home » Theater Guide » Location » United Kingdom » England » Whitstable, Kent » Regal Cinema
Also known as Picturehouse, Argosy Cinema

Regal Cinema

Whitstable, Kent, England
44-48 High Street
, Whitstable, Kent, England, United Kingdom CT5 1BQ
(map)
Status: Closed
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Art Deco
Function: Retail
Seats: 936
Chain: Unknown
Architect: Frederick E. Bromige
Firm: Unknown
Add a photo for this theater!
Opened on 26th February 1913 as the Picturehouse on Whitstable High Street, it was designed by architect Edwin Pover. The building had previously been Church & Co. furniture store. It was a reverse cinema, with the screen located at the entrance end on High Street.

In 1937 it was rebuilt and enlarged to the plans of architect F.E. Bromige and now contained 1,000 seats, re-opening as the Argosy Cinema. It was given an Art Deco style frontage (in response to competition from the nearby Oxford Cinema). In later-1950 it was remodeled and re-named the Regal Cinema.

The Regal Cinema was closed on 17th September 1960 with Robert Mitcham in "The Wonderful Country". The interior was gutted and it was converted into Whitstable's first supermarket, which was operated by Finefare. At this time the Art Deco style frontage was simplified in to a very plain 1960's design with large central windows sadly replacing the curved Art Deco. For a while, a Chinese restaurant operated in the circle foyer.

It remains as a supermarket in 2009 operated by Budgens.
Contributed by Woody

YOUR COMMENTS

 
Photo taken September 2009 of the exterior, the pitched roof of the auditorium block rising above the modified frontage
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3970201816/
Scroll down to see two great photos of the original Picturehouse and then its Art Deco style rebuild
http://www.simplywhitstable.com/chat_cols/chat274d.htm
posted by woody on Oct 3, 2009 at 2:22am
Comment
*

Notify me when someone replies to my comment?
Note: Please read our comment policy before posting. Comments which are off-topic, obscene, spam, or personal attacks will be removed. Help us keep the discussion productive!