The current tennants Flixton School of Performing arts have just announced they are sadly closing down. The school were unable to fund repairs on the building so gave notice and the owner of the site has now sold it for a development of affordable housing. Plans go into Trafford council this week. A real shame if it is lost, this is the cinema my mum and grandmother always went to every week to see films in the 1940s and 50’s.
Howard I typed it as it was written on the letter on the planniing site but did wonder if it was correct. I think in retrospect it is probably a mistake by council.
Additional comments on the application from March 19: “A number of further credible operators have come forward with specific interest. This site represents the last and only opportunity in the West End to provide a large scale cultural venue such as a theatre with a fly tower, as it still has the volume and footprint to provide one. It has the potential to offer an auditorium seating up to around 1,400 seats”
Looks like planning application to turn it into hotel has been refused. Which is good news. The refusal says “The proposed rooftop extension, by reason of the proposed height, mass,detailed design and materials would compromise the form, architectural character and historic interest of the host listed building, and in combination with
the change of its main use to a hotel, would result in less than substantial harm to the significance of the host listed building and nearby surrounding Seven Dials and Denmark Street Conservation Areas, contrary to Policy D2 (Heritage) of the Camden Local Plan 2017.
I know it won’t happen but it would be nice if it became a one auditorium building again and the art deco was recreated. Wealthy theatre owners take note.
Reported in today’s Daily Mirror that a huge cannabis growing factory had been set up inside. Pictures of the auditorium after police raided it. Totally filled with growing beds and lights. Must be the most bizarre use yet for an old cinema.
Saw Mama Mia 2 in Screen One. The sofa and armchair seating is very comfortable with good leg room(plus tables) and now much reduced in capacity only extends to the former circle front. The area below that and the former stepping down to the front stalls is still visible but only used as an exit. The screen is now further forward in front of the proscenium which works well. I appreciate that not all 1930’s cinema fans will appreciate this scheme but it is in my view an improvement on previous visits under Reel and Odeon and gives a sophisticated life to an old building. The foyers have interesting alcove seating areas in what were formerly cupboards or ticket offices. The centre doors are not used now and have a seating area with tables. Entrance is from left and right doors. The central foyer bar looks good too. I glanced into screen 4 that was originally offices and although small the screen was quite good and of course more sofas. I assume screen 5 added by Reel on the ground floor is now the cafe adjoining the main foyer. All in all a nice place to see film and relax.
Arthur Lloyd.co.uk has some fascinating info and new photos of this Theatre added recently. Incidentally my mother a drama student at the time worked as an usherette on South Pacific. She saw it more times then she would have liked.
The old Chelsea Classic received the first transfer of Rocky Horror from The Royal Court Upstairs in Sloane Sq. It then moved down the road to what is now Cineworld Chelsea (known briefly as The Kings Road Theatre before bing divided as a cinema) then ending its run at the Comedy Theatre, in Panton Street off Leicester Sq in around 1980-81 (now the Harold Pinter) The former Odeon built in 1930’s now Habitat and Curzon Chelsea never staged it. The only other theatre on Kings Road The Chelsea Palace was a TV studio for Granada TV but didn’t stage the show at anytime. That is now redeveloped as shops, currently the Metro Bank.
Plans currently submitted to covert it into a Hotel. Four tiny Cinemas in basement with a two story roof addition. See camden council planning website for details.
This link gives an update from Empire, how accurate it is I don’t know but hope they are committed to completing this project and one of my favourite cinemas wasn’t lost in vain.
Hi Ian, in 1998 the whole site including flats and shops were sold off by Chesterfield Properties, owners of the Curzon chain to a property company. The Phoenix Theatre as part of this sale was then leased to Ambassador Theatre Group. As a result an independent cinema was not viable on such a prime site and being no longer controlled by Curzon closed at once.
English films did return briefly in the late 1970’s for Saturday morning children’s performances.Also Mrs Ghandi the indian prime minister on a visit to Southall gave a press conference here around the same time as did her predecessor.
Ken; As a former assistant manager of this cinema I submitted the page and added a few comments on it from me to which another member replied. All were relevent to the cinema. No idea whats happened. Lost some of mine on a previous site as well.
I will re submit them sometime.Thanks for getting back to me.
The plans as I understand them from the Ealing Borough web site will involve the preservation of the tower and facade (Part of a conservation area) while the Auditorium block will be demolished and the new store built on an extended site behind. Either way it is sad to see this cinema finally going particularly as there may be parts of the Theodore Komisarjevsky scheme remaining hidden from view.
It would be good if it could be preserved whole. I no longer live in the area but i’m sure there must be some people locally who would like it saved as a whole.
In case this has been missed elsewhere the link below is to an excellent English Heritage site that has most of John Maltby’s Odeon circuit pictures including some showing the demolition of the Alhambra and construction of the Odeon Leicester Square.Just enter Odeon in search box and spend a happy hour or two viewing as I did.
The current tennants Flixton School of Performing arts have just announced they are sadly closing down. The school were unable to fund repairs on the building so gave notice and the owner of the site has now sold it for a development of affordable housing. Plans go into Trafford council this week. A real shame if it is lost, this is the cinema my mum and grandmother always went to every week to see films in the 1940s and 50’s.
Howard I typed it as it was written on the letter on the planniing site but did wonder if it was correct. I think in retrospect it is probably a mistake by council.
Additional comments on the application from March 19: “A number of further credible operators have come forward with specific interest. This site represents the last and only opportunity in the West End to provide a large scale cultural venue such as a theatre with a fly tower, as it still has the volume and footprint to provide one. It has the potential to offer an auditorium seating up to around 1,400 seats”
Looks like planning application to turn it into hotel has been refused. Which is good news. The refusal says “The proposed rooftop extension, by reason of the proposed height, mass,detailed design and materials would compromise the form, architectural character and historic interest of the host listed building, and in combination with the change of its main use to a hotel, would result in less than substantial harm to the significance of the host listed building and nearby surrounding Seven Dials and Denmark Street Conservation Areas, contrary to Policy D2 (Heritage) of the Camden Local Plan 2017.
I know it won’t happen but it would be nice if it became a one auditorium building again and the art deco was recreated. Wealthy theatre owners take note.
Reported in today’s Daily Mirror that a huge cannabis growing factory had been set up inside. Pictures of the auditorium after police raided it. Totally filled with growing beds and lights. Must be the most bizarre use yet for an old cinema.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/huge-28m-cannabis-factory-found-16521396
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-47779148
Announced today building will be Channel 4’s New Leeds headquarters.
Saw Mama Mia 2 in Screen One. The sofa and armchair seating is very comfortable with good leg room(plus tables) and now much reduced in capacity only extends to the former circle front. The area below that and the former stepping down to the front stalls is still visible but only used as an exit. The screen is now further forward in front of the proscenium which works well. I appreciate that not all 1930’s cinema fans will appreciate this scheme but it is in my view an improvement on previous visits under Reel and Odeon and gives a sophisticated life to an old building. The foyers have interesting alcove seating areas in what were formerly cupboards or ticket offices. The centre doors are not used now and have a seating area with tables. Entrance is from left and right doors. The central foyer bar looks good too. I glanced into screen 4 that was originally offices and although small the screen was quite good and of course more sofas. I assume screen 5 added by Reel on the ground floor is now the cafe adjoining the main foyer. All in all a nice place to see film and relax.
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/DominionTheatre.htm
Arthur Lloyd.co.uk has some fascinating info and new photos of this Theatre added recently. Incidentally my mother a drama student at the time worked as an usherette on South Pacific. She saw it more times then she would have liked.
The 1982 Dominion Centre is now the new home to Southall Library.
The old Chelsea Classic received the first transfer of Rocky Horror from The Royal Court Upstairs in Sloane Sq. It then moved down the road to what is now Cineworld Chelsea (known briefly as The Kings Road Theatre before bing divided as a cinema) then ending its run at the Comedy Theatre, in Panton Street off Leicester Sq in around 1980-81 (now the Harold Pinter) The former Odeon built in 1930’s now Habitat and Curzon Chelsea never staged it. The only other theatre on Kings Road The Chelsea Palace was a TV studio for Granada TV but didn’t stage the show at anytime. That is now redeveloped as shops, currently the Metro Bank.
Plans currently submitted to covert it into a Hotel. Four tiny Cinemas in basement with a two story roof addition. See camden council planning website for details.
Taken today 24th April 2014
Some recent information on plans for this site.
http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2013/september/plans-lodged-for-100m-ealing-film-quarter/
Incredible pictures Adam, Its amazing how much has survived the conversion to Tesco. Are they still planning to demolish it in the near future?
This link gives an update from Empire, how accurate it is I don’t know but hope they are committed to completing this project and one of my favourite cinemas wasn’t lost in vain.
http://www.empirecinemas.co.uk/index.php?page=cinemainfo&tbx_site_id=22
Back in 1932 no one could have imagined it would one day change hands for £32 Million
Some promising interest shown from Sir Cameron Mackintosh into making this cinema into a Theatre.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/314772/Showman-s-grand-plan-for-old-cinema
Hi Ian, in 1998 the whole site including flats and shops were sold off by Chesterfield Properties, owners of the Curzon chain to a property company. The Phoenix Theatre as part of this sale was then leased to Ambassador Theatre Group. As a result an independent cinema was not viable on such a prime site and being no longer controlled by Curzon closed at once.
English films did return briefly in the late 1970’s for Saturday morning children’s performances.Also Mrs Ghandi the indian prime minister on a visit to Southall gave a press conference here around the same time as did her predecessor.
Ken; As a former assistant manager of this cinema I submitted the page and added a few comments on it from me to which another member replied. All were relevent to the cinema. No idea whats happened. Lost some of mine on a previous site as well.
I will re submit them sometime.Thanks for getting back to me.
Any idea why comments are being removed from this page.
The plans as I understand them from the Ealing Borough web site will involve the preservation of the tower and facade (Part of a conservation area) while the Auditorium block will be demolished and the new store built on an extended site behind. Either way it is sad to see this cinema finally going particularly as there may be parts of the Theodore Komisarjevsky scheme remaining hidden from view.
It would be good if it could be preserved whole. I no longer live in the area but i’m sure there must be some people locally who would like it saved as a whole.
Thanks Ken for responding,it was the second time that all this theatres comments had been wiped, hopefully the problem won’t repeat itself.
Just curious why do comments keep getting deleted from this cinemas page.Including this one I expect.
In case this has been missed elsewhere the link below is to an excellent English Heritage site that has most of John Maltby’s Odeon circuit pictures including some showing the demolition of the Alhambra and construction of the Odeon Leicester Square.Just enter Odeon in search box and spend a happy hour or two viewing as I did.
http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/