Picture House

Beaver Road,
Ashford, TN23

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Located in Ashford, Kent. The Royal Cinema de Luxe was opened on 24th June 1912 with “Christopher Columbus”. Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels. It had a 30 feet wide proscenium and a 20 feet deep stage that had a shell-shaped roof to improve acoustics. There were three dressing rooms. In 1917 a 3Manual ‘straight’ organ with 18 speaking stops was installed.

In 1935, architect A.E. Jackson was engaged to remodel the cinema, and it was given an Art Deco style both inside and outside. The side splay walls beside the proscenium were painted with a foliage design. It re-opened on 14th January 1936 as The Cinema.

It was twinned in April 1985 and was re-named Picture House. In May 1987 it was tripled. The Picture House had closed by 1999.

Contributed by Ken Roe