ABC Redditch
Unicorn Hill,
Redditch,
B97 4QR
Unicorn Hill,
Redditch,
B97 4QR
4 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated British Cinemas Ltd., Cannon Cinemas, Classic Cinemas (UK), Danilo Cinemas, Essoldo Circuit (Contol) Ltd., S.M. Super Cinemas, Ltd.
Architects: Ernest S. Roberts
Firms: Satchwell & Roberts
Functions: Bar
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Danilo Cinema, Essoldo, Classic, Cannon
Nearby Theaters
The Danilo Cinema was opened on 4th February 1937 with Jean Marsh in “Children of Divorce”. It was the second cinema to be built as a part of the Danilo Cinemas chain.
The Danilo Cinema had seating provided in stalls and circle levels. It had a 40 feet wide proscenium and a small stage.
Later operated by Southan Morris from 1945, it was taken over by the Essoldo chain on 26th August 1954, and re-named Essoldo. The Essoldo chain were taken over by the Classic Cinemas chain on 2nd April 1972, and it became the Classic. Classic Cinemas tripled the auditorium in 1973, and the seating was now for 450 in the former circle, and two 250 seat auditoriums in the former rear stalls area. In 1982 it was refurbished and the seatin was replaced by larger seats which rduced the capacity to 270-seats in screen 1 and 135-seats in screens 2 & 3.
Subsequent operators were the Cannon Group from 1984, and latterly ABC. The ABC was closed on 18th March 1999.
In 2002, it was converted into a Chicago Rock Cafe, and on 28th May 2010, it re-opened as a pub in the popular JD Wetherspoon chain, known as ‘The Royal Enfield’.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The former Danilo Cinema, photographed in February 2008 as the Chicago Rock Cafe:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/23310285/
The Danilo Cinema was built to a design by Ernest S. Roberts. Prior to the building of the cinema, there was a hosiery factory on the site.
I was the manager here from 1978 until I moved to The Futurist in Birmingham in 1984.
The Screen seating numbers changed in 1982 when the cinema had a complete refurbishment which included larger, more luxurious seating this resulted in reduced capacities of Screen 1- 270 seats with screens 2 & 3 having 135 each. Perhaps a forerunner of the reduced more luxurious developments we see today?
As a result of the refurbishment I pushed for a no smoking policy, which, as far as I’m aware, was the first cinema in the UK to do this.
The opening film for the refurbishment was ET, so we got off to a great start with queues around the block (pre computerised booking of course).
Operational staff included myself, Peter McFadden, Assistant Manager Anne Melvin and Paul Richards Chief Projectionist.
I believe at some point an application was made to demolish the cinema and replace it with a multiplex. However, it turned out to be impractical because the local council and the Cannon company couldn’t agree on who owned the land between the back of the cinema and the flyover behind the building so nothing ever happened. As a result the building continues to operate as a Wetherspoons to this day.
Anyone with further information please feel free to contact me.