The airbase was completed in 1985, following the damage done during the Conflict in 1982, it was opened by HRH Prince Andrew. Both the cinema and bowling alley on the airbase are, in fact, open to the populace of the Islands, as well as MOD staff and families.
Regal House that stands on the site of this cinema was completed in 1995.
https://www.hsmuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/140423379462831_Regal_House_Castle_Circus_Torquay.pdf
Visited this site overnight 23-24th January, 2017, and the Gala Bingo operation has closed, signs removed, and has been stripped out of bingo equipment.
By chance I visited Sale overnight, and passed by the Pyramid/Odeon, which is now a Sports Direct Fitness gym. I was surprised to find that the main street presence has absolutely no signage at all for the gym, and indeed the main doors looked like the building was shuttered and disused.
I didn’t realise that the entrance is in fact at the rear of the premises! Even so, you’d think that there would be something on the front elevation wouldn’t you?
The building is looking scruffy, with plants starting to grow, not good for a Listed building!
I have managed to get to see above the false ceiling… the Mollo & Egan designed ceiling was still in good shape then, as was the seats left behind too… unfortunately, we could not access the projection room, as the metal stairs had rusted away… may be worth trying to get a look again sometime..
There used to be an unusual pylon in the car park to the cinema… it seams that this has disappeared… it was going to be re-opened as a cinema, but Tesco bought the freehold and wanted to demolish everything… including, yes, the cinema… listing has saved it for now..but as we all know, Listing to Grade 2 is no guarentee of being saved at all these days…
Another thought.. above the Circle foyer (Plaza 2) was unused space, the former cafe. You could see out of the top of the three long windows onto Lemon Street from there, plus there was still a pond in the roof (which leaked!) from when it was opened… devoid of fish I hasten to add! It must have looked beautiful at night lit up… Mr Whale had plans to build Plaza 4 up there, but it never came to pass…
I worked at this cinema for a summer season, alongside the Camelot in Newquay, for Mr Norman Whale who operated both at the time. Sadly the electrics in the Plaza were a little suspect, which caused the safety certificate to be refused… by that time, Mr Whale had lost the Camelot, and so decided to give it all up. It is good that WTW Cornish Cinemas took the Plaza over… always a pleasure to work in, the main screen, Plaza 1, still used the old projectors and carbon arc lighting, from the original projection room.
Plaza 2 was in the former circle foyer, projection room squeezed under the circle void… Plaza 3 was in two-thirds of the rear stalls… the other third unused, just used as a walkway to gain access to the front stalls when needed.
If you sat in the circle in Plaza 1, you still had the same look and feel of how it all was when it opened.. pure bliss!
The airbase was completed in 1985, following the damage done during the Conflict in 1982, it was opened by HRH Prince Andrew. Both the cinema and bowling alley on the airbase are, in fact, open to the populace of the Islands, as well as MOD staff and families.
It looks like some parts of this building is being retained, but the main facade and auditorium have gone…
Location is 295 Dewsbury Road, LS11 5LS. Now called Winstons, it’s a massage parlour/health club.
Regal House that stands on the site of this cinema was completed in 1995. https://www.hsmuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/140423379462831_Regal_House_Castle_Circus_Torquay.pdf
The bingo operations ceased in 1995.
The new mapping service is more than adequate. Is there any chance that a county search could be introduced?
And wasn’t it later called The Palace?
Demolished in the 1980s, replaced by the precinct development.
Now part of Aston University, the facade has been retained with a new build behind, housing a research establishment for renewable energy sciences.
No longer in use as a youth club, currently standing unused.
I can confirm that this former cinema has been demolished in favour of 2 small dwellings. Visited 02/07/17
Visited this site overnight 23-24th January, 2017, and the Gala Bingo operation has closed, signs removed, and has been stripped out of bingo equipment.
By chance I visited Sale overnight, and passed by the Pyramid/Odeon, which is now a Sports Direct Fitness gym. I was surprised to find that the main street presence has absolutely no signage at all for the gym, and indeed the main doors looked like the building was shuttered and disused. I didn’t realise that the entrance is in fact at the rear of the premises! Even so, you’d think that there would be something on the front elevation wouldn’t you? The building is looking scruffy, with plants starting to grow, not good for a Listed building!
There is a PALACE listed in the 1948 KYB, under New Tredegar, together with the EMPIRE, however, no other detail is given other than the name..
The cinema was located in a wooden hut, which was demolished and replaced with the cricket pavilion. Postcode is GL2 7HR
Sadly, on the 14th January, 2015, Wellers closed this auction room, as online auctions are more popular than physical ones they said.
Saints Court is now at 12, Pennywell Road, so maybe it’s been converted to flats? Or demolished to make way for flats? Full postcode is BS5 0EE.
Address of property is 5, West End Terrace, NP23 6HS
Shows how much ‘listing’ and a ‘conservation area’ means, if this building was still demolished…
The film on show dates this picture to 1948 if shown on release?
I have managed to get to see above the false ceiling… the Mollo & Egan designed ceiling was still in good shape then, as was the seats left behind too… unfortunately, we could not access the projection room, as the metal stairs had rusted away… may be worth trying to get a look again sometime..
There used to be an unusual pylon in the car park to the cinema… it seams that this has disappeared… it was going to be re-opened as a cinema, but Tesco bought the freehold and wanted to demolish everything… including, yes, the cinema… listing has saved it for now..but as we all know, Listing to Grade 2 is no guarentee of being saved at all these days…
Another thought.. above the Circle foyer (Plaza 2) was unused space, the former cafe. You could see out of the top of the three long windows onto Lemon Street from there, plus there was still a pond in the roof (which leaked!) from when it was opened… devoid of fish I hasten to add! It must have looked beautiful at night lit up… Mr Whale had plans to build Plaza 4 up there, but it never came to pass…
I worked at this cinema for a summer season, alongside the Camelot in Newquay, for Mr Norman Whale who operated both at the time. Sadly the electrics in the Plaza were a little suspect, which caused the safety certificate to be refused… by that time, Mr Whale had lost the Camelot, and so decided to give it all up. It is good that WTW Cornish Cinemas took the Plaza over… always a pleasure to work in, the main screen, Plaza 1, still used the old projectors and carbon arc lighting, from the original projection room.
Plaza 2 was in the former circle foyer, projection room squeezed under the circle void… Plaza 3 was in two-thirds of the rear stalls… the other third unused, just used as a walkway to gain access to the front stalls when needed.
If you sat in the circle in Plaza 1, you still had the same look and feel of how it all was when it opened.. pure bliss!
As has happened to so many Bingo Clubs, Ritz Bingo closed on 2010, and the site is boarded up and disused.