This venue has now re-opened under Trust ownership and it’s status should be returned to “Open”. Weymouth Pavilion is run by a community interest company.
Weymouth & Portland Borough Council has awarded the lease for Weymouth Pavilion (opens in a new window) to a not-for-profit-organisation.
Councillors meeting at the Management Committee on 19 June 2013 agreed to award the lease to Mr Phil Say, who has set up a Community Interest Company.
The council agreed to enter into a 10 year lease with the Community Interest Company based on terms agreed at its April Management Committee, and also subject to:
•A £150,000 loan by the council, repayable on terms included in the 19 June Management Committee report
•A fixed annual contribution from the council of £30,000
•The council awards 80 per cent discretionary rate relief
•The Community Interest Company meets the costs of car parking permits for staff and volunteers
•The Council meets liabilities that may arise from any staff issues (TUPE) related to the previous council-operated facility
http://www.weymouthpavilion.com/
Please be advised that the link provided is out of date. Full details of the current location of the Kingsway Compton Organ and the 2012 season of popular concerts can be found at the following website;
www.rochford-compton.com
This site also contains pictures of the cinema and staff.
Demolition of this cinema began 4 weeks ago…and has largely been completed as of today (23rd March 2012). The structure of the cinema was not suited to re-development into the flats destined for the site, and had suffered from neglect over the years. The plans indicate the facade is to be replicated in the new flat development. As a camping store since closure as a cinema in 1963, little remained of the interior after conversion, with the exception of the small balcony and the projector room which was used as offices. The last incarnation was a short term lease as a furniture shop which expired about 9 months ago while planning for the new development was underway. And so another piece of cinematic history dissapears forever….
Gala closed this former cinema two years ago. It is currently boarded up securely and the freehold offered for sale. I had the opportunity to look round the building before it closed. The vault barrel ceiling and side wall decoration were well preserved and picked out in gentle colours. The proscenium and screen area had been re-modeled to accomodate concession outlets, the lobby ceiling plasterwork obscured by a false ceiling, but still intact and well preserved above, and the projector rooms were management offices. Coming with it’s own car park, I am surprised this former cinema has not been snapped up for re-development. For now it remains well shuttered and secure.
I have just read a press report which states that following commercial evaluation by Odeon last year, this cinema has been deemed uneconomically viable and is currently for sale. Closure and change of use must be a distinct possibility. Sample the real cinema experience in the vast main auditorium while you can.
This theatre has had more than one stay of execution already in recent months, and is currently set to close at the end of the year. A shame, as this comes hot on the heels of the Carlton Cosham’s closure, resulting in the loss of two Art Deco gems within a few miles of each other. Screen One is still an impressive auditorium to see a film, of a size fast dissapearing from the Odeon circuit. Grab a film while you can!.
A 1000 mile round trip for a closing night…could that be something of a record?….whatever…the challenges of the M25 and M1 were well worth it to attend the closing night of York Odeon. The final film in Screen One was You, Me & Dupree a pretty lukewarm american comedy, my only dissapointment was the lack of a few words to mark the occasion of the final presentation, but this was more than made up for by the great atmosphere generated by the film goers, Odeon staff, and the ambience of the Art Deco auditoruim. There were many nice touches, not least when the screen tabs were closed momentarily between the adverts and the main feature to allow the grand entrance of a group of enthusiasts dressed in 1930’s costume ( including Captain Jack Sparrow and a delightful blonde lady in a stunning white dress who look every part the classic movie star…who ever you were!). All were greeted with a generous round of applause, which was repeated when the curtains came together for the final time at the end of the feature. All the attendees and staff are to be congratulated on ensuring the final night was a memorable occasion….duly filled with both laughter and tears.
The staff in particular were most patient and obliging to the usual requests and questions which fall on them on such occasions, and the final fans left, ( me among them!) clutching their souvenirs around 11.30 pm when the doors were finally able to be closed!.
I can only hope that sufficient input can be brought to bear so that this unique building can continue it’s role in providing entertainment faciltites for the community it serves and that we have'nt said farewell to another gem….merely a temporary goodbye.
I can confirm that demolition of this Odeon was completed by January 2005, and the site is now levelled ready for new building work for the college. My colleague Peter Hammond and i were among the last to enter the building, and took much photographic material for posterity. Several useful items of cinema related equipment were also removed prior to demolition. The seating and the best of the projectors had been removed shortly after closure and laterly some of the sound and lighting equipment and curtaining was utilised in a local theatre. In all honesty, apart from the sculptured ceiling and a small amount of plasterwork on one wall of the original Circle holding area, all traces of the building’s Art Deco heritage had been swept away in the 1969/70 re-build. Traces of the original hydraulic orchestra pit were still visible, and the organ pipe chambers were still traceable. Despite reports, the original entrance and facade has also been demolished along with the auditoria.
This venue has now re-opened under Trust ownership and it’s status should be returned to “Open”. Weymouth Pavilion is run by a community interest company.
Weymouth & Portland Borough Council has awarded the lease for Weymouth Pavilion (opens in a new window) to a not-for-profit-organisation.
Councillors meeting at the Management Committee on 19 June 2013 agreed to award the lease to Mr Phil Say, who has set up a Community Interest Company.
The council agreed to enter into a 10 year lease with the Community Interest Company based on terms agreed at its April Management Committee, and also subject to: •A £150,000 loan by the council, repayable on terms included in the 19 June Management Committee report •A fixed annual contribution from the council of £30,000 •The council awards 80 per cent discretionary rate relief •The Community Interest Company meets the costs of car parking permits for staff and volunteers •The Council meets liabilities that may arise from any staff issues (TUPE) related to the previous council-operated facility http://www.weymouthpavilion.com/
Please be advised that the link provided is out of date. Full details of the current location of the Kingsway Compton Organ and the 2012 season of popular concerts can be found at the following website;
www.rochford-compton.com
This site also contains pictures of the cinema and staff.
Demolition of this cinema began 4 weeks ago…and has largely been completed as of today (23rd March 2012). The structure of the cinema was not suited to re-development into the flats destined for the site, and had suffered from neglect over the years. The plans indicate the facade is to be replicated in the new flat development. As a camping store since closure as a cinema in 1963, little remained of the interior after conversion, with the exception of the small balcony and the projector room which was used as offices. The last incarnation was a short term lease as a furniture shop which expired about 9 months ago while planning for the new development was underway. And so another piece of cinematic history dissapears forever….
Gala closed this former cinema two years ago. It is currently boarded up securely and the freehold offered for sale. I had the opportunity to look round the building before it closed. The vault barrel ceiling and side wall decoration were well preserved and picked out in gentle colours. The proscenium and screen area had been re-modeled to accomodate concession outlets, the lobby ceiling plasterwork obscured by a false ceiling, but still intact and well preserved above, and the projector rooms were management offices. Coming with it’s own car park, I am surprised this former cinema has not been snapped up for re-development. For now it remains well shuttered and secure.
I have just read a press report which states that following commercial evaluation by Odeon last year, this cinema has been deemed uneconomically viable and is currently for sale. Closure and change of use must be a distinct possibility. Sample the real cinema experience in the vast main auditorium while you can.
This theatre has had more than one stay of execution already in recent months, and is currently set to close at the end of the year. A shame, as this comes hot on the heels of the Carlton Cosham’s closure, resulting in the loss of two Art Deco gems within a few miles of each other. Screen One is still an impressive auditorium to see a film, of a size fast dissapearing from the Odeon circuit. Grab a film while you can!.
A 1000 mile round trip for a closing night…could that be something of a record?….whatever…the challenges of the M25 and M1 were well worth it to attend the closing night of York Odeon. The final film in Screen One was You, Me & Dupree a pretty lukewarm american comedy, my only dissapointment was the lack of a few words to mark the occasion of the final presentation, but this was more than made up for by the great atmosphere generated by the film goers, Odeon staff, and the ambience of the Art Deco auditoruim. There were many nice touches, not least when the screen tabs were closed momentarily between the adverts and the main feature to allow the grand entrance of a group of enthusiasts dressed in 1930’s costume ( including Captain Jack Sparrow and a delightful blonde lady in a stunning white dress who look every part the classic movie star…who ever you were!). All were greeted with a generous round of applause, which was repeated when the curtains came together for the final time at the end of the feature. All the attendees and staff are to be congratulated on ensuring the final night was a memorable occasion….duly filled with both laughter and tears.
The staff in particular were most patient and obliging to the usual requests and questions which fall on them on such occasions, and the final fans left, ( me among them!) clutching their souvenirs around 11.30 pm when the doors were finally able to be closed!.
I can only hope that sufficient input can be brought to bear so that this unique building can continue it’s role in providing entertainment faciltites for the community it serves and that we have'nt said farewell to another gem….merely a temporary goodbye.
I can confirm that demolition of this Odeon was completed by January 2005, and the site is now levelled ready for new building work for the college. My colleague Peter Hammond and i were among the last to enter the building, and took much photographic material for posterity. Several useful items of cinema related equipment were also removed prior to demolition. The seating and the best of the projectors had been removed shortly after closure and laterly some of the sound and lighting equipment and curtaining was utilised in a local theatre. In all honesty, apart from the sculptured ceiling and a small amount of plasterwork on one wall of the original Circle holding area, all traces of the building’s Art Deco heritage had been swept away in the 1969/70 re-build. Traces of the original hydraulic orchestra pit were still visible, and the organ pipe chambers were still traceable. Despite reports, the original entrance and facade has also been demolished along with the auditoria.