Prince's Picture House

This was originally the drill hall of the Sussex Yeomanary and it was located behind the buildings on North End. An existing building on North End was re-modeled in a Moorish style that had an open columned balcony and large dome on top. This formed the entrance to the Prince’s Picture House cinema, and the auditorium beyond, was reached via a long passageway.

The Prince’s Picture House opened on 27th June 1921, originally with 1,116 seats. In November 1923, due to sightline problems, the screen was brought forward, and this reduced the seating capacity.

The Prince’s Picture House was closed on 11th May 1929 with Stewart Rome in "What Do You Know of Love?" and Dorothy MacKaill in "The Way of a Transgressor". The independent operating company of the cinema had gone into liquidation. All equipment was removed from the building and it was sold at auction.

It re-opened on 30th July 1930 as the Prince’s Amusement Hall, which had various amusements as well as dancing and a cafe. The main entrance on North End was converted into retail use and entrances were made on Church Path and Tamworth Road, which had previously been exits from the auditorium.

By 1941, it had been taken over by Mecca Dancing Ltd. and converted into the Palais Ballroom. The auditorium was demolished in the 1980’s for a car park and part of an office block. The Moorish style entrance on North End remained and although modified, still retains its dome today, with an O2 mobile phone shop operating out of the premises.

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