ABC Hove
193 Portland Road,
Hove,
BN3 5JB
193 Portland Road,
Hove,
BN3 5JB
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Located in Hove, today a district of Brighton, the Granada Theatre was built by the independent exhibitors Hove Cinemas Ltd. and it had no connection with the chain of Granada Theatres operated by Sydney Bernstein. The Granada was designed by architect H.L. Hemsley and completed by architect Frederick E. Bromige (his third cinema design). Internal decoration was the work of decorative artist F.L. Filie.
The Granada Theatre opened on 17th July 1933 with film star Anna Neagle attending in person. The opening programme was Nancy Carroll in “The Kiss Before the Mirror” and Moore Marriot in “The Hawleys of High Street”. Externally the theatre had a corner entrance which had an angular pierced tower and a large stage house at the rear. Inside the auditorium there were elegant classical figures ranged along the side-walls, which were decorated with stylised butterflys and dragonflys. This decoration extended into the foyer and cafe.
The theatre was equipped for stage shows with a fully equipped stage which was 25 feet deep and there were 5 dressing rooms. The proscenium was 45 feet wide. Film use was also included and the theatre was equipped with a Compton 2Manual/5Rank theatre organ which had an illuminated ‘cascade’ console that was opened by organist James Swift.
The Granada was taken over by Associated British Cinemas(ABC) from 18th June 1935. It was re-furbished in 1962 and was re-named ABC on 25th May 1965. The cinema was re-furbished again in December 1970 and was given a ‘Luxury Lounge’ treatment with new seats in the stalls and new carpet. It re-opened on 24th December 1970 with Walt Disney’s “The Aristocats” playing concurrent with the Odeon Brighton. The circle seating area was closed off and not used. The ABC closed on 5th June 1974 with Edward Woodward in “Callan” when an audience of less than 50 attended the last night.
From 1975 to September 2003, the building was used as a bingo hall, initially as a Ladbrokes Bingo Club and latterly as a Gala Bingo Club. The building is currently vacant and plans have been submitted in March 2008 to demolish and build a doctor’s surgery on the site.
Contributed by
Lost Memory, Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
Thanks to Ken Roe for the great introduction above. Photos and additional information can be found here.
A 1986 photo of the Granada on bingo here:–
View link
A September 2003 photograph of the then recently closed Gala Bingo Club and further details:
http://www.terramedia.co.uk/brighton/Granada.htm
This is what the building looks like as of June 2008 and here is another view.
Here is another exterior view.
The Theatres Trust have now have the application for demolition!
Such a shame its gone to look so neglected since that 1986 picture was taken.
It would be great to get some interior pics before it disappears.