Regal Cinema

322 Norwood Road,
London, SE27 9AF

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Gaumont-British-Picture Corp., Ltd., Hyams & Gale, Rank Organisation

Architects: Frederick Edward Jones

Styles: Art Deco

Nearby Theaters

Regal Norwood.

Located in the southeast London district of West Norwood. The beautiful Regal Cinema was opened on 16th January 1930, and was built by A.E. Abrahams. It was equipped with a Christie 3Manual organ. Taken over by the Hyams & Gale chain 24th April 1933, it was taken over by Gaumont British Theatres(GB) in October 1935.

Closed in late-1939 due to war-time conditions, it was re-opened on 3rd November 1940. The Regal Cinema was closed by the Rank Organisation on 8th February 1964 with a Peter Sellers double bill programme “I’m Alright Jack” and “Two Way Stretch”. It was converted into a Top Rank Bingo Club. The bingo club closed in 1978, and it was demolished in November 1981. A B&Q DIY Homestore was built on the site.

Contributed by Kenneth Jukes

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

DAVIDFREEMAN
DAVIDFREEMAN on November 2, 2003 at 6:18 pm

THIS CINEMA WAS DEMOLISHED IN NOVEMBER 1981…..I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS….
THE SEATING WAS 2,010…..
THE ARCHITECT WAS F.EDWARD JONES…..
IT CLOSED ON THE 8TH FEB 1964……..
THEN IT WAS “TOP RANK” BINGO…

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on December 20, 2005 at 8:08 am

The Regal was built for A.E. Abrahams and opened on 16th January 1930. It was leased by Hyams & Gale from 24th April 1933 and taken over by Gaumont Super Cinemas in October 1935. It was equipped with a Christie 3Manual theatre organ.

Closed due to wartime conditions at the beginning of the war, it re-opened on 3rd November 1940. The closing programme on 8th February 1964 was the Peter Sellers double bill;“I’m Alright Jack” plus “Two Way Stretch”. It immediately became a Top Rank Bingo Club which opened on 20th February 1964 and it closed in 1978. The building was demolished and a D.I.Y. hardware store was built on the site.

royalbet
royalbet on May 15, 2006 at 5:17 pm

I WORKED AT THE REGAL WEST NORWOOD ABOUT 1940. IT HAD A BEAUTIFULL ORGAN PLAYED BY BETTY MITCHELL, THE ORGAN WAS DESTORYED BY FIRE IN AN AIR-RAID, I WAS THERE AT THE TIME I COULD HAVE SAVED THE ORGAN BUT THE FIRE HOSE WAS DEFECTED IT HAD ROTTED OVER THE YEARS.THE SAFETY CURTAIN WAS LOWERED EVERY NIGHT DURING THE WAR IF IT HAD NOT BEEN DOWN THE REGAL WOULD HAVE BURNED DOWN THEN. WORKING AT THE REGAL WAS THE BEST JOB I EVER HAD.I WAS SADDENED TO HEAR IT IS GONE FOR-EVER.I NOW LIVE IN THE USA SINCE 1952 BUT I STILL FONDLY REMEMBER THE BEAUTIFULL REGAL.
KENNETH JUKES.

zapsincl
zapsincl on July 16, 2006 at 11:35 pm

My Grandfather had a bakery in Brixton (J Ensing & Sons) and used to have an advertising board for the Regal West Norwood outside of the shop.
As payment, he used to get two complimentary tickets each week. He was given a small book which was stamped each time it was used.
I recall the cinema had boxes and as a complimentary ticket holder you were allowed to sit anywhere so this was always a favourite option. Very posh.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on December 3, 2007 at 11:54 am

Scroll down to see vintage photo of auditorium:
View link

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on December 3, 2007 at 4:19 pm

Page 11 of brochure linked above.

madorganplayer
madorganplayer on September 10, 2016 at 12:15 am

Apparently the Regal Christie organ was not destroyed in the fire (which was as a result of a direct hit on the stage end by a bomb).But the percussion thumpof the bomb caused everything in the pipe chambers to lift up several inches and down again and everything fell about and was considered a write off.BUT the Standaart cinema organ from the Metropole in central London(which was bigger than the Regals organ) was being stored on the stage and as this was completely destroyed as it was behind the fire curtain.So this is the one that Kenneth was probably thinking about.

rivest266
rivest266 on August 5, 2021 at 10:51 am

Grand opening article posted.

Oldiegoer
Oldiegoer on May 31, 2022 at 1:42 am

I worked for Top Rank Clubs as an assistant manager and one of my duties was often to do relief work at other clubs whilst I was based at Peckham….I remember this building quite well as behind the bingo scenery on stage was a plethora of old stage lighting switches….I also managed as I recall to somehow go up in the ceiling and there was a walkway that allowed you to look down on the auditorium.

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