Picture House
43 St. Peter's Hill,
Grantham,
NG31 6EE
43 St. Peter's Hill,
Grantham,
NG31 6EE
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Granada Theatres Ltd.
Architects: Albert Winstanley
Styles: Neo-Georgian
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The Picture House opened on 14th February 1916 with “Julius Ceasar”. It had an attractive facade which was decorated in Doulton ware ceramic tiles. The walls of the foyer were lined with oak wood panels. Inside the auditorium seating was provided in stalls and circle and the decorative style was Georgian. There was a four-piece ‘Picture House Concert Orchestra’, to which was added a Grand Concert Organ specially built by Messrs. Walker of London. Other facilities included a cafe and smoking room.
In 1937 the new State Cinema was built only 30 yards away on St. Peter’s Hill and sometimes queues for the two cinemas got intertwined.
The Picture House was operated as an independent cinema through to near the end of its life and on 13th December 1954 it was taken over by the Granada Theatres chain who operated the State Theatre. It was closed by Granada Theatres on 30th June 1956 with John Wayne in “Reap the Wild Wind”.
It stood empty for several years until April/May 1961 when it was demolished and a Tesco supermarket was erected on the site. This later became a Bejam supermarket and was later operated as JJB Sports. In 2018 it was a cafe/bar named Cinco Lounge.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
The Picture House was taken over on 13th December 1954 by, and continued film performances, operated by Granada Theatres in conjunction with the Granada Theatre (former State Theatre) until closure in June 1956. The Empire and the Central cinemas in the town were also acquired by Granada at the same time, each was closed before the take over day and neither ever operated again.