Palace Cinema

The Palace Picture Hall is located in the Armley district, to the west of Leeds. It opened on 26th August 1912 with "The Governor’s Daughter" and was operated by Armley Rink Co. Ltd. The building had originally been Armley Skating Rink and the architect for the conversion was the managing director of the operating company, Councillor Ezra Hoyle. It had a seating capacity of 800. Part of the building was converted into a dance hall and there was a café attached.

One year later at the beginning of August 1913, it was announced that the Palace Picture Hall, which had been closed for alterations and re-decoration would re-open, as new lighting, a new floor, seats and heating system had been installed.

By 1937 it was listed as having a seating capacity of 1,300 (it is possible that a circle had been added?) and there was a skating rink (former dance hall?) & café attached.

The Palace Cinema closed on 26th August 1964 with Hayley Mills in "Summer Magic". It was converted into an independent bingo club which remains in use today as the New Western Bingo Club.

The former dance hall/skating rink became a squash club and bar. It became a gay sauna known as the Steam Complex Sauna, which opened on 21st November 2007 and contained a 20 seat cinema. It was licenced to screen films (adult) and stage live performances and dancing, and also has an alcohol licence until 3:00am. The Steam Complex Sauna was gutted by a 3:00am fire on 17th October 2016 which was attended by 10 fire engines. They prevented the fire from spreading to the bingo club. The building was demolished in July 2019, only a lower section of the facade remains in July 2022.

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