The building sadly closed in May 2014. Last thing I heard is that it will be turned into a retail space, after plans to demolish it to be turned into a hotel were denied by the council twice.
I have done some research and can confirm that this building is the oldest functioning cinema in Buckinghamshire. The second closest is the Astra in Halton (which opened a mere 4 months later in January 1926). The previous cinemas in the area have all been closed down.
I used Martin Tapsell’s Memories of Buckinghamshire’s Picture Palaces and this website for researching.
The ODEON Barnet is no more. It closed in July for a basic refurb/debranding and is now open as the Everyman Barnet. It is currently under an ‘Everything is changing’ decor, meaning that the site deliberately looks under construction until a more extensive refurb is carried out next year.
The ODEON closed on Thursday 6th August. It has been sold to the Everyman chain, who take over 10th August 2015. The building will be closed until at least early October for refurbishment, with an estimated turnaround time of 2-3 months.
The operators Zoom moved out in 2012. The old cinema is now a Prezzo pizza restaurant who have been operating since September 2012. Sadly, after its refurbishment, nothing of the original architecture remains and one would have no idea it used to be a cinema.
This is what the cinema looked like from it’s opening in 1925 right up until Carry on Camping in 1969, when it was changed by the Essoldo chain to look like the next picture in the album
I am presently a manager at the Odeon and would be interested in any pictures of the building from its heyday, especially interior shots. We have some pictures from it’s claim to fame in Carry On Camping. First time I’ve seen a picture of it as an Essoldo!
The building sadly closed in May 2014. Last thing I heard is that it will be turned into a retail space, after plans to demolish it to be turned into a hotel were denied by the council twice.
The Everyman Gerrards Cross is open again and showing movies. It reopened on 23rd October 2015.
I have done some research and can confirm that this building is the oldest functioning cinema in Buckinghamshire. The second closest is the Astra in Halton (which opened a mere 4 months later in January 1926). The previous cinemas in the area have all been closed down.
I used Martin Tapsell’s Memories of Buckinghamshire’s Picture Palaces and this website for researching.
The ODEON Barnet is no more. It closed in July for a basic refurb/debranding and is now open as the Everyman Barnet. It is currently under an ‘Everything is changing’ decor, meaning that the site deliberately looks under construction until a more extensive refurb is carried out next year.
The ODEON closed on Thursday 6th August. It has been sold to the Everyman chain, who take over 10th August 2015. The building will be closed until at least early October for refurbishment, with an estimated turnaround time of 2-3 months.
Unfortunately the cinema was demolished in February 2014 to make way for another supermarket.
http://www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk/news/more-news/end-of-an-era-for-buckingham-s-chandos-cinema-1-5863342
The operators Zoom moved out in 2012. The old cinema is now a Prezzo pizza restaurant who have been operating since September 2012. Sadly, after its refurbishment, nothing of the original architecture remains and one would have no idea it used to be a cinema.
This is what the cinema looked like from it’s opening in 1925 right up until Carry on Camping in 1969, when it was changed by the Essoldo chain to look like the next picture in the album
I am presently a manager at the Odeon and would be interested in any pictures of the building from its heyday, especially interior shots. We have some pictures from it’s claim to fame in Carry On Camping. First time I’ve seen a picture of it as an Essoldo!
Thanks