Savoy Cinema

In the small Lincolnshire seaside resort of Sutton on Sea, four miles south of its larger neighbour Mablethorpe, a roller skating rink opened in the 1920’s. This late entry went the way of most of its predecessors, and was soon converted into the Kinema by its owner, Fred Chunley. There were 380 seats, including 60 in a small balcony.

When sound was installed in 1931, part of the rear wall was removed so that the speakers could be accommodated.

The Kinema was renamed Savoy Cinema in the mid-1930s. (This cinema’s first appearance, at all, in the Kinematograph Year Books is in 1937, as the Savoy Cinema.) By that time it was owned by Sutton-on-Sea Cinemas Ltd. (and still had 380 seats).

By 1946 the proprietor was A. S. Yates, and the seating capacity had apparently increased (or just been more carefully counted!) to 385. This had reduced to 325 by 1950, when it had been acquired by the Savoy Cinema Company.

By 1952 the seating capacity had reduced slightly, to 315. By 1958 the proprietor was R. J. Dowdeswell, who had either made some minor alterations, or counted the seats more carefully, as the seating capacity was then shown, in the Kinematograph Year Book, as 309. The proscenium width was listed at 20ft. CinemaScope had been installed; there was one show daily, with three changes of programme each week.

The following year, 1959, has the Savoy Cinema in the ownership of Sutton Cinema Company. Yet more diligent counting saw the seating capacity reduced to 302 by 1963.

It is not known when the Savoy Cinema closed, but its final appearance in the Kinematograph Year Books was in 1969, indicating a longer survival than many small town cinemas.

The building has been demolished. Surprisingly, until 2016, at least, its site, between Lloyd Pharmacy and Alford Windows, was still vacant.

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