Coronet Theatre
103-111 Notting Hill Gate,
London,
W11 3LB
103-111 Notting Hill Gate,
London,
W11 3LB
12 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 63 of 63 comments
Really the above comments are ridiculous, the staff were retained! Kensington Temple was the only viable bid to guarantee the continuance of the Cinema the other offers being unacceptable and unrealistic. KT has feeding programmes around the world focusing on children in need. Really this type of posting is irresponsible as it is totally misinformed and judgemental.
It’s a shame that the Kensington Temple bought the cinema for around 4 million pounds when people are starving for food and water all around the world. The money could have been used to help those people and thus putting the most basic teaching of Jesus into practice. I realised that Kensington temple is not a charity but a PROFIT MAKING ORGANIZATION. All this show is done on the name of Jesus. I went through the bible and there is no page in it which states that you need to spend so lot to promote the cause of Jesus.
May be the coronet will not be a church but one thing for sure we are not silly because it will be a church in disguise. Everyone is protesting regarding the change in respect to the cinema but no one ever thought about those people who lost their jobs and who were made forcefully redundant. Not even Colin Dye cared about it and yet he is praising Jesus all the day. My gratefulness goes to all the ex staffs of the coronet cinema excluding the managers (who are absolutely incompetent , unprofessional and who cannot even write basic English).As a regular customer , I found some of the staffs were really nice and welcoming. I will miss those bubbly people. I wish them all the best. May I suggest to the company who took over , I believe you better show that movie called GODFATHER because it suits you very well……What a shame.!!
It’s a shame that the Kensington Temple bought the cinema for around 4 million pounds when people are starving for food and water all around the world. The money could have been used to help those people and thus putting the most basic teaching of Jesus into practice. I realised that Kensington temple is not a charity but a PROFIT MAKING ORGANIZATION. All this show is done on the name of Jesus. I went through the bible and there is no page in it which states that you need to spend so lot to promote the cause of Jesus.
May be the coronet will not be a church but one thing for sure we are not silly because it will be a church in disguise. Everyone is protesting regarding the change in respect to the cinema but no one ever thought about those people who lost their jobs and who were made forcefully redundant. Not even Colin Dye cared about it and yet he is praising Jesus all the day. My gratefulness goes to all the ex staffs of the coronet cinema excluding the managers (who are absolutely incompetent , unprofessional and who cannot even write basic English).As a regular customer , I found some of the staffs were really nice and welcoming. I will miss those bubbly people. I wish them all the best. May I suggest to the company who took over , I believe you better show that movie called GODFATHER because it suits you very well……What a shame.!!
Here is the latest press release the church has actually SAVED the Cinema!
Coronet announces opening film programme
It will be business as usual when Notting Hill’s The Coronet Cinema re-opens under new ownership on Thursday (May 20th).
The opening film on Thursday night will be Troy (15), and other films in the first week include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (15); the Day After Tomorrow (12a) and matinee showings of Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (PG).
The Coronet has been purchased by Notting Hill-based Church, Kensington Temple. The church has committed to an immediate investment of £500,000 for upgrading and improvements at the cinema, and hope to raise over £1 million over the next eighteen months for further improvements and renovation work.
Senior Pastor Colin Dye commented: “As the new owners we are fully committed to ensuring that The Coronet continues as a resource and venue for the entire Notting Hill community and beyond. As our launch programme demonstrates we will continue to offer a wide selection of popular films.
“Keeping the cinema function has always been one of our key aims and allows us to build important bridges with our neighbourhood. The Coronet first opened in 1898, and Kensington Temple church was first open for services in 1848 so we both have very long associations with the area.â€
The Coronet was previously owned and managed by Mr and Mrs Graham Dowson for 30 years. Mr Dowson commented:
“We are delighted that Kensington Temple has bought the Coronet Cinema. We were approached by a number of prospective purchasers but Kensington Temple came forward with a proposal that ensured the continuation of an important cinema. Their proposal promised exciting developments in the use of this historic building and a return in due course also to include its original role as an important venue for theatrical and live arts.â€
Pastor Dye also clarified the Temple’s position regarding the intended uses of the Coronet:
“We have always said that our primary purpose is to use the Coronet as a centre for the arts for all the community. We are currently in the process of what we intend to be a comprehensive consultation with every section of the community.
We believe that out of this process of consultation will come positive and concrete proposals which, if implemented, will make the Coronet a thriving multi media entertainment centre for the whole community.
We are not seeking to turn the Coronet into a church and are not applying for any change of use at this time. The Cinema will continue to run as usual. We expect the final proposals when they are completed will include on-going cinema capability as well as the full restoration of the theatre element.â€
-ends-
Sad news, the Coronet closed on 12 May 2004, one day earlier than announced. The final film in the main auditorium was ‘Van Helsing’. EasyCinemas were hoping to buy the building and continue its cinema use, but were outbid by a church who plan to use the building for their services, but they say they may still occasionally screen ‘family orientated’ films.
The Coronet was built as a drama theatre, opening on 28th November 1898 at 103-111 High Street, Notting Hill, in West London. It seated 1,143, the architect was W.G.R. Sprague. It became a full time cinema from November 1923 and this continued until its recent closure. Only 2 years ago a 2nd small screen was added, located on the stage. It was the last cinema in London that still allowed smoking in the auditorium. It is a Listed Grade II building.
The cinema is sold now due to pure greed only.Long live the coronet but not the ex owners!!
I hope that this theater can be saved.
Dear Brian,
I used to be projectionist there in the 70s just before it changed hands.Les Palmer was manager.I would like to know where he is these days.Great place and great memories.I now run hotels in Auckland New Zealand.
I use to love running the old classics on the 16mm we had there at the time and the Busby Berkley films.
Paul
the coronet is a fine cinema . having worked there as a relief projectionist up till late 2003 a dream show for any projectionist who cared about showmanship .full manual presentaion vic 8 mech with dolby digital philips/kinoton platter. cp500 processor screen 1 with festoon curtains . the upper circle not used as rake too steep .but could make a special events cinema in its own right .
screen 2 vic 9 dolby sr with philips.kinoton platter again festoon curtains . super clean in both auditoriums . a credit to the cleaning staff. owned at the time by mr and mrs graham dowdon .once head of the rank organisation .i have quite a few pics of this beautifull cinema . and was very lucky to have been videoed by fred fullerton who visited the cinema with camcorder in hand .
the potential for the coronet was never fully realised .as 70mm would have made a great option with bigger screen of course .
the 388 seats is correct loss of seats was beacause better quality seats fitted in stalls with super leg room .in the right hands and money spent it could be the best cinema in london .as the acoustics are superb . with no break thru from screen 1 to 2
please contact me if you want to see photos at .co.uk
I have just arrived from London, and saw the exterior of this building. This theatre looks a lot larger than the 388 seats that the statement makes above. I did photograph the exterior. Since I see no mention of seating capacity above, where was the 388 figure obtained from?
with 388 seats! and 147 on the stage, this is a little variety theatre that became a local cinema, there are plenty of large west end halls and theatres for orchestras to perform in.
OPENED ON 28TH NOV 1898…
This building was part of the Gaumont circuit until the late 1970s when it was taken over by the Coronet Group and had its original name re-instated.
The main auditorium looks and feels like an Edwardian theatre.
The second auditorium has recently been built on the stage and has an equally theatrical feel. A great place to see a film although the building is frequently eyed as a future home for Mcdonalds!! Long may it continue to operate as a cinema!