Medina Movie Theatre

Located in the centre of Newport on the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of England. Built on the site of the Medina Hall, which had opened by 1889, and by the 1920’s it was in use as a cinema. It was demolished in 1935.

The Medina Cinema was opened on 18th April 1936 with “George White’s Scandals” starring Alice Faye. Seating 1,000 in stalls and circle levels, the Medina Cinema had a fully equipped stage, which was well used. It also had a restaurant, located on the first floor.

It was divided into two spaces in 1966, with the former circle remaining as a cinema, and the former stalls became a bingo club. Taken over by the Leeds based Star Cinemas chain in 1969, they renamed the cinema Studio 1. Star Cinemas were taken over by the Cannon Group in the 1970’s and it was re-named Cannon.

Taken over by the Picturedrome chain of cinemas on 14th January 1994, it was re-named Picturedrome. The cinema was divided into two screens, one seating 577, the other 299, with bingo continuing in the former stalls.

Last known as the Medina Movie Theatre, it was closed in late-2000 when the new Cineworld multiplex opened. Work began in late-2001 to convert the former stalls (bingo) area into a Yates’s Wine Lodge pub. I believe the former balcony cinemas part of the building is unused.

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