New Classic Cinema
Seaside,
Eastbourne,
BN21
Seaside,
Eastbourne,
BN21
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The Eastbourne Picture Theatre opened on Seaside in June 1914. It was equipped with a ‘Clavorchestra’ organ which was manufactured by Brindley and Forster of Sheffield. In 1915 it was re-named Empire Cinema and in 1921 it was re-named Elysium Cinema.
In 1936 it came under the ownership of Randolph E. Richards and was re-vamped and underwent yet another name change to Gaiety Cinema. The Gaiety Cinema was closed during the heavy German bombing of the South Coast in September and October 1940 and remained closed until 1942.
In 1966, Randolph E. Richards sold the Gaiety and his other Eastbourne cinema, the Picturedrome to Classic Cinemas Ltd. and the Gaiety Cinema was re-named New Classic Cinema. It was closed on 17th November 1973.
Any further information on its current use would be appreciated.
In 2005, it was designated a Grade II Listed building by English Heritage.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
If it’s the one I think it is in Seaside Road, then the Eastbourne Constitutional Club occupies part of the ground floor of the building. The cinema was actually on the top floor, I believe
This is a February 2008 photo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ksavs/3293367429/
Follow this link to 3 pictures taken in May 2008
This is in Seaside Road but is NOT the cinema which shared premises with the Constitutional Club – that was the Tivoli and the above photos are of the Tivoli, not the New Classic. The New classic became the Manhattan Nightclub following closure, this too closed and after a long period of dereliction, the cinema was converted into the Reef'n'Beef restaurant and bar.
A photo of the New Classic as the Manhattan can be seen here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/137082580/