Progress has been slow, but in February 2025 the project is nearing completion - seats were installed throughout in February, but there is still much to do, including equipping the stage. The auditorium has little left of the original decor, but there is a surprising amount left elsewhere in the building, much of which has been beautifully restored. I believe a new operator has been appointed, but yet publically announced. A reopening during the Year of Culture is likely.
Nottingham Windsor Cinema. Designed in art deco style by Alfred Thraves. It had a wealth of internal plasterwork, which looks very like Mollo & Egan to me, and much still survives. It was converted to Cinemascope in 1955, at which point the original proscenium and possibly the decorative side grilles may have lost - there is no trace of them now. The balcony has also been partially removed, and a false floor inserted at the screen end. It closed in June 1962, and became a Players Gift Showroom, before its current use as a carpet warehouse. Believed to be under threat of redevelopment. The roof is in poor condition. The facade is mostly intact under the cladding, originally with an elegant canopy above the entrance doors, with three tall windows (now blocked off) at first floor level that lit the circle foyer. It may well have had neon lighting. Clearly (even now) this was once a very elegant cinema, but the size of the site, together with the adjacent car park, is likely to prove its downfall in the near future.
In August 2024 the former Derby Arms public house, next door to the theatre, opened as an extension. On the ground floor there is a new box office, and then a spacious new bar. Upstairs there is a community hall which can be hired. In the courtyard at the back of the pub / side of the theatre, there are new build connections between the two buildings, incorporating lift access between differing levels. The pub had been purchased several years ago and was in a semi derelict state, but funding of over £1million from the Levelling Up fund has enabled the Hippodrome to enact the planned works.
The photos above show very little of the Empire, being more of the former Victoria Opera House, next door to the Empire. In the B&W photo the Empire is hidden behind the bus, and in the more recent image it is the plain black facade inbetween the small white building and the frontage with 3 windows and lights.
This photo (not mine) clearly shows that at some point the Odeon / Classic was adapted for cinemascope with a new wide screen forward of the original proscenium:-
The architects for the scheme were Covell Matthews, with interior design by Burrows Little. The largest capacity screen is the 264 seat IMAX screen 1 (the screen is 10.85m tall and 19.87m wide), with the smallest (Screen 3) coming in at 36 seats, often used for private hires and containing its own kitchenette for catering. The largest conventional screen is No.7 with around 140 seats, the ones in-between accommodate between 44 and 78. Screens 1,3 & 7 are fully equipped for conference and business meetings with each chair having a power socket. On the ground floor is the 100 cover Backlot Diner. There is a strong community ethos within the cinema, with discounts for local residents, Parent Club & Golden Age screenings, and involvement with local festivals. The overall scheme has been facilitated by £5m of funding from the government’s COVID-19 Getting Building Fund, following formal approval by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in October 2020. Blackpool Council funded the balance of the scheme. The Backlot is distinctly above average for a multiplex, and a vast improvement on the former Odeon Rigby Road, which closed before the new cinema opened.
The upper level of the old cinema auditorium seems to have reopened as a theatre - the Old Electric - is use for a variety of events. The seating appears to be the old screen end, with some surviving plasterwork on the ceiling. Entrance is now from the side of the building in Springfield Road.
The Grand was demolished in 2018, and has been replaced with shops and apartments. After Chicago Rock Cafe closed (when the group went into administration), it became a nightclub called Wonder Lounge which also closed suddenly in 2013.
An album of images from the Odeon / Bradford Live here:-
Bradford Live album
Trafalgar Entertainment named on 17th February as new operators of the venue. It is expected that the venue will be open by Autumn 2025.
Trafalgar Announcement
Apologies - “NOT yet publically announced” should have been the text above
Progress has been slow, but in February 2025 the project is nearing completion - seats were installed throughout in February, but there is still much to do, including equipping the stage. The auditorium has little left of the original decor, but there is a surprising amount left elsewhere in the building, much of which has been beautifully restored. I believe a new operator has been appointed, but yet publically announced. A reopening during the Year of Culture is likely.
A photo taken in February 2025 here:- BRADFORD LIVE - auditorium from stage
All three cinemas and the museum open by February 2025 when I visited.
Some photos taken in 2024 here:-
ERNST DEUTSCH Exterior
ERNST DEUTSCH Studio Theater
ERNST DEUTSCH Auditorium from stage
ERNST DEUTSCH Auditorium from balcony
Closed suddenly on Saturday 19th October 2024 due to “issues with building”.
Nottingham Windsor Cinema. Designed in art deco style by Alfred Thraves. It had a wealth of internal plasterwork, which looks very like Mollo & Egan to me, and much still survives. It was converted to Cinemascope in 1955, at which point the original proscenium and possibly the decorative side grilles may have lost - there is no trace of them now. The balcony has also been partially removed, and a false floor inserted at the screen end. It closed in June 1962, and became a Players Gift Showroom, before its current use as a carpet warehouse. Believed to be under threat of redevelopment. The roof is in poor condition. The facade is mostly intact under the cladding, originally with an elegant canopy above the entrance doors, with three tall windows (now blocked off) at first floor level that lit the circle foyer. It may well have had neon lighting. Clearly (even now) this was once a very elegant cinema, but the size of the site, together with the adjacent car park, is likely to prove its downfall in the near future.
WINDSOR CINEMA - Exterior
WINDSOR CINEMA - Ceiling above balcony
WINDSOR CINEMA - Foyer
WINDSOR CINEMA - Art deco window on stairs to circle
Photo of Screen 1 with the new seating, taken in July 2024
SAVOY - Screen 1
In August 2024 the former Derby Arms public house, next door to the theatre, opened as an extension. On the ground floor there is a new box office, and then a spacious new bar. Upstairs there is a community hall which can be hired. In the courtyard at the back of the pub / side of the theatre, there are new build connections between the two buildings, incorporating lift access between differing levels. The pub had been purchased several years ago and was in a semi derelict state, but funding of over £1million from the Levelling Up fund has enabled the Hippodrome to enact the planned works.
In mid-July 2024 Screen 1 was closed to be reseated with luxury rockers and recliners, reducing the capacity to 130. It reopened on 19th July.
The Studio Cinemas were demolished in 2018.
The photos above show very little of the Empire, being more of the former Victoria Opera House, next door to the Empire. In the B&W photo the Empire is hidden behind the bus, and in the more recent image it is the plain black facade inbetween the small white building and the frontage with 3 windows and lights.
The Reel (Manchester Road) was demolished in June / July 2024
This photo (not mine) clearly shows that at some point the Odeon / Classic was adapted for cinemascope with a new wide screen forward of the original proscenium:-
Odeon as store
The architects for the scheme were Covell Matthews, with interior design by Burrows Little. The largest capacity screen is the 264 seat IMAX screen 1 (the screen is 10.85m tall and 19.87m wide), with the smallest (Screen 3) coming in at 36 seats, often used for private hires and containing its own kitchenette for catering. The largest conventional screen is No.7 with around 140 seats, the ones in-between accommodate between 44 and 78. Screens 1,3 & 7 are fully equipped for conference and business meetings with each chair having a power socket. On the ground floor is the 100 cover Backlot Diner. There is a strong community ethos within the cinema, with discounts for local residents, Parent Club & Golden Age screenings, and involvement with local festivals. The overall scheme has been facilitated by £5m of funding from the government’s COVID-19 Getting Building Fund, following formal approval by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in October 2020. Blackpool Council funded the balance of the scheme. The Backlot is distinctly above average for a multiplex, and a vast improvement on the former Odeon Rigby Road, which closed before the new cinema opened.
Photos from May 2024:-
EXTERIOR
FOYER
FOYER
FOYER
Screen 1 - IMAX
Screen 1 - IMAX
Screen 7
Screen 3
A 2024 shot of the completed rebuild - still no confirmation of the cinema reopening.
GAUMONT Chelsea - exterior
A few photos from the Cinema Theatre Association visit in April 2024
APOLLO Exterior at rear
APOLLO Foyer
APOLLO Balcony
APOLLO Auditorium from rear
APOLLO Auditorium from stage
APOLLO Projection portholes
The upper level of the old cinema auditorium seems to have reopened as a theatre - the Old Electric - is use for a variety of events. The seating appears to be the old screen end, with some surviving plasterwork on the ceiling. Entrance is now from the side of the building in Springfield Road.
Old Electric Website
Film shows ceased when the Savoy Cinema opened.
More images from 2010 here:-
TOOTING GRANADA - Exterior
TOOTING GRANADA - Hall of Mirrors
TOOTING GRANADA - Balcony
TOOTING GRANADA - Entrance Foyer
TOOTING GRANADA - Stage
The Grand was demolished in 2018, and has been replaced with shops and apartments. After Chicago Rock Cafe closed (when the group went into administration), it became a nightclub called Wonder Lounge which also closed suddenly in 2013.
Hi Biffaskin,
I believe it is correct. All sources seem to agree on the date of opening (for example - in some detail):- Bradford Timeline
and Dawson does not seem to have started work until around 1922:- Manchester Architects
Perhaps it replaced an earlier cinema?
An unlisted building on a large island site - the former Odeon must surely be at severe risk now.
Current views of the Odeon Covent Garden (December 2023) here:-
SCREEN 1
SCREEN 2
SCREEN 4