Essoldo King's Heath

69 High Street,
Birmingham, B14 7BH

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Essoldo Circuit (Contol) Ltd.

Architects: Horace G. Bradley

Styles: Neo-Classical

Previous Names: Kingsway Cinema

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News About This Theater

The Kingsway/Essoldo inside in August 2004

Located in the south Birmingham district of King’s Heath. The Kingsway Cinema opened on 2nd March 1925 with Clara Bow in "Down to the Sea in Ships" and Max Linder in “Circusmania”. Seating was provided in stalls and circle. Around 1929 it was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system.

Towards the end of its cinematic life it was taken over by the Essoldo circuit. It closed on 3rd May 1980 with John Huston in "The Bermuda Triangle" and the documentary feature "Encounter with Disaster".

It was converted into an Essoldo bingo club, a use it still retained in later years as a Gala Bingo Club, which was closed in 2007.

The empty building was badly damaged by a fire which occurred early in the morning on 17th September 2011. Work began on demolishing the building in mid-March 2018. The façade has been saved.

Contributed by Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on May 14, 2007 at 3:46 am

A recent 2007 photograph of the former Kingsway Cinema:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrgravy/409029589/

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on October 4, 2010 at 7:37 am

The empty building photographed in September 2010:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carrie132/5000659910/

tom0121
tom0121 on August 14, 2011 at 4:32 pm

Very sad to see the state of the cinema. Planning permission recently refused to be converted into a banquet hall (http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2010/12/15/plans-to-convert-historic-kings-heath-cinema-rejected-97319-27827074/). Now planning permission being requested for conversion into a shop.

For a nice picture taken by Geoff Thompson (http://www.photobydjnorton.com/GTC/KingsHeath.html)

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore on September 15, 2011 at 6:19 pm

This was another Theatre Owned by Bertie Bull… Then sold to Essoldo…. He owned the Kings norton Cinema as well.

70mmbobbyj
70mmbobbyj on September 17, 2011 at 6:42 am

A fire this morning, roof has collapsed. All very suspicious.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore on September 17, 2011 at 9:42 am

that is very sad… Very suspicious indeed..

outercirclebus
outercirclebus on November 26, 2015 at 10:22 am

Building up for auction Dec 2015. There is planning permission has been granted for its regeneration, which would see its Grade A locally listed façade retained while the fire damaged structure at the back is to be demolished. The refurbished building would include a shop on the ground floor with 14 two-bedroom apartments above.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore on March 20, 2018 at 6:50 am

Reports are in the rear is now demolished.

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