Theatre Royal

St. James Street,
King's Lynn, PE30 5BZ

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Associated British Cinemas Ltd., Union Cinema Co. Ltd.

Architects: Keeble C. Allflat

Functions: Bingo Hall

Styles: Art Deco

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Theatre Royal

When Associated British Cinemas(ABC) took over the Union Cinema Co. Ltd. chain in October 1937, they acquired the partially built Theatre Royal in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. The former Theatre Royal and Hippodrome (which has its own page on Cinema Treasures) had been destroyed by fire on 12th May 1936. The Union Cinema Co. Ltd. were in the process of completely replacing it to the designs of Keeble C. Allflat. It opened under ABC control on 6th April 1938 with Ronald Colman in “The Prisoner of Zenda”. It had 1,030 seats and a full stage (with high fly tower) and dressing rooms. It was equipped with a A.B.T.H sound system. In June 1955 it was equipped with a 30ft wide CinemaScope screen. During the 1950’s the Theatre Royal presented films and stage shows. In early-1962 it became a part-time bingo club operating as an Alpha Bingo Club with films on certain evenings.

It closed to films on 14th April 1962 with Cliff Richard in “The Young Ones” & William Franklyn in “Pit of Darkness”. It was converted into a full-time Gala Bingo Club. Over the years, this has been modernised, but there are still many decorative features remaining inside the auditorium. By 2020 it is independently operated as the Ritz Bingo Club.

Contributed by Ian Grundy

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

Ian
Ian on March 10, 2014 at 2:46 am

Interior shot from 2014 here. The club has very recently changed from Gala ownership to Ritz Bingo.

AUDITORIUM

Biffaskin
Biffaskin on January 5, 2021 at 8:28 am

Cover photo clearly how’s the van advertising the Alpha Bingo Club here, later operating as a Gala Club, and now the independent Ritz Bingo Club. Mecca have never operated this venue.

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