Castle Cinema
Castle Building,
1 Worcester Place,
Swansea,
SA1 1AQ
Castle Building,
1 Worcester Place,
Swansea,
SA1 1AQ
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 23 comments
It’s maybe getting a new life in 2023. Proposed redevelopment of the Former Castle Cinema to provide a mixed use scheme of commercial units and Residential Apartments consisting of refurbishment, extension and associated works
https://www.asbriplanning.co.uk/statutory-pre-application-consultation/former-castle-cinema-swansea/
After years of being under threat of demolition, though a listed building with some structural problems, a potentially viable plan to create a block of student flats and retail units and retaining a number of external features of the Castle Cinema has been announced.
Confirmed opening and closing dates are 14.12.13 and 31.10.91
The Castle opened about 1913 and was renamed the Filmcenta in 1982. I believe its last film was Doc Hollywood so probably closed about 1991. One photograph shows it as a children’s adventure playground before Lazerzone.
The 1966 BBC television play “Where the buffalo roam”, written by Dennis Potter and starring a young Hywel Bennett, featured a scene at the entrance to the Castle. Bennett’s young character was admiring and fantasising about cowboy films, stills of which were on display at the cinema.
Photo of the previously mentioned side staircases in the foyer as they were in 1989:–
CASTLE FOYER
Its absolutely rediculous isnt it! I couldnt believe my eyes when I first saw the original foyer photographs.
I recently bluffed my way to the rear of the stalls of the Castle, now Lazerzone. Shocking! There is nothing left of the auditorium. Every single thing has been removed and the whole auditorium is a 3 level theme park. The main foyer entrance has all been destroyed together with the old box office. The two staircases to the circle area that were either side of the box office are gone too. I thought this was a listed building!!! I read somewhere that the owners were in trouble with the local council for the removal of the box office.
Another internal photo of the Castle:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/5066662653/
In the late 1940s- early 1950s I visited this hall , mainly on Friday or Saturday nights, with various members my family.I can readily recall my maternal grandmother (1881-1968) telling me that this was not the first cinema to exist on this site.
She often talked about a small Bioscope hall that existed on the Castle Cinema site from around 1903.The entrance was apparently in Worcester Place. Her story went on to relate that the Bioscope Cinema was demolished some time around 1911 and replaced by the present Castle Cinema circa 1912. I would be please to hear from any Swansea cinema buff who can confirm confirm this fact?
rear of the building facing the current 10 screen odeon (former uci)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2665458252/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2664622577/
frontage
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2665436920/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2664614585/
Castle Cinema Swansea
Rear view from The Strand
View link
Another rear view.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220501821/
Rear view of the Castle Cinema Swansea. If any one knows if there was ever an entrance to the cinema here please let us know.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220501821/
Shot showing how badly run down the building has become from its days as a cinema in the photo above.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2221380878/
Side view show both ends of the building.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220592363/
Facade as a LaserZone attraction.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2220496547/
A vintage and a couple of recent photographs of the former Castle Cinema, courtesy of the Cinema Theatre Association archives:
View link
Is there anyway the name could be changed on this entry. The people of Swansea and South Wales simply do not know and do not reffer to this cinema as the Film Centre! Its always been The Castle! The name ‘Castle Cinema’ is still at the back of the theatre 10'‘ high!!! The name Film Centre was naver placed anywhere on the building. I overlooked the name Film Centre on my first couple of serches on here. So, its the Castle Cinema Swansea- please. I have 3 great photos of the huge rear elevation of the Castle taken March 2007. Anyone got any ideas when we can load photos on here again- ive about 20 i want to upload for us???
I visited The Castle cinema (Swansea folk still remember it fondly as this and not the Filmcenta) in March 2007. I asked if it was possible to take a look inside and take some photos. I was told that the whole place had been gutted to install the LazerQuest game (what the hell are these things anyway?)with nothing to see and that the only thing still there was the screen. I quized about the rumours that it was going to be demolished and the guy said that it was only a rumour and that the games were sold out everynight. Lets keep our eyes open on this one.
Watermans!!!! do u you need a second store in Swansea? Please!
I took a photo which i will post that shows the frontage in a very very sorry state compared to the above photo when it was a cinema.
What condition is the auditorium in with this Laser game thing thats there at the moment? In the above pictures i remember that awful pleated curtain on the walls and by the time it closed most of it was off and in a dreadful state! I remember going to see Grease here on its initial release with my friend Tammy- we went nearly every Saturday for its run. It realy was a flea pit but it have a distinct charm. Amazing to think that a lot of major movies had there premiere release there like E.T , Batman and Raiders Of The lost Ark I miss old cinemas like this so much
Photos (whilst still operating as a cinema) here:–
Exterior
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/74762097/
Interior
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/74762098/
The Castle Cinema was the first purpose built cinema to open in Swansea. It opened on 14th December 1913 and was designed by the architectural firm of Thomas, Meager & Jones of London. The exterior facade scupture was carried out by George Houton of Worcester.
In 1967 it was modernised internally when the auditorium was draped in curtain material and the seating capacity was reduced to 800. It closed in 1983, but quickly re-opened later that year having been re-named the Film Centre. It finally closed as a cinema on 31st October 1991 and was converted into use as a Lazer Zone – War Game Centre.