Jacey Leicester Square

7 Leicester Square,
London, WC2H 7NA

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Jacey Cinemas

Architects: Cecil Aubrey Masey

Functions: Casino, Restaurant

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Monseigneur News Theatre, Jacey Cartoon Cinema

Nearby Theaters

1976

The building actually opened in the 1890’s as the 100-bed Queen’s Hotel beside the Empire Theatre. In 1936 architect Cecil Masey was comissioned to convert the hotel lobby area in a 350 seat newsreel theatre for the Monseigneur circuit.

The theatre had a marquee above which was a neon lit board with the theatre’s name in large letters. When newsreels ended production in the late-1950’s it was taken over by Jacey Cinemas in June 1960 and went over to screening non-stop 1 hour shows of cartoons, re-named Jacey Cartoon Cinema.

Ten years later it was re-named Jacey Leicester Square when it began screening soft core ‘adult’ movies, opening on 16th April 1970 with “Wierd Wierdo”. It closed on 24th June 1978 and was converted into a small shopping arcade. In 1983, the building was gutted, removing all traces of the cinema and was converted into restaurant and casino use. The facade still retains its original 1890’s appearance.

Contributed by KenRoe

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on February 7, 2006 at 5:13 pm

Under what listing would I find the Empire Theater in Leicester Square?

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on August 15, 2009 at 5:55 am

The Monseigneur News Theatre photographed at night in November 1955:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allhails/2808549818/

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on January 18, 2011 at 4:56 am

A vintage photograph of the Monseigneur News Theatre in April 1955, with the Empire Theatre on the left:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allhails/5154554082/

jncohen
jncohen on June 21, 2015 at 11:05 am

This cinema (amongst others) was owned by my family business Jacey Cinemas Ltd. that no longer exists. Anyone interested in learning more can find my webpage devoted to the ‘History of the Jacey Group’ that included Jacey Cinemas, this was created by my late Grandfather Joseph Cohen (I am the last surviving Director) Please have a look at my website: – http://www.jncohen.net/JaceyGroup/JosephCohen.htm

ArtDirector
ArtDirector on February 1, 2024 at 11:23 am

The auditorium of this cinema was irregular. Think of it as four squares with the the front half by the screen being the full width of two squares and the rear half being only a quarter square with seating only on the right. Presumably a shop unit occupied the left rear quarter of the space.

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