Ritz Cinema
134 Church Street,
Preston,
PR1 3BT
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Star Cinemas
Architects: George Edward Tonge
Styles: Art Deco
Nearby Theaters
The Ritz Cinema had 1,650 seats on a stadium plan (with stepped seating at the rear rather than an overhanging circle). It opened on 23rd March 1937 with George Formby in “"Keep Fit”. It had a 40 foot wide screen and a shallow stage.
It was sold to Leeds based Star Cinemas chain in 1968 who made some improvements but the Ritz Cinema was by now hopelessly too large for the town and it closed to be converted to bingo in the front stalls area and a club in the former rear section.
The screen end of the building seems to have been demolished (2004) with the rear wall now seemingly following the curve of the balcony. The remainder of the building survived as a nightclub and dining rooms. By November 2022 it was a restaurant, a men’s hairdresser and a jiu jitsu school. They had moved out of the building by November 2024.
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
i am the new owner of Ritz cinema Preston do you have any photos etc of when it was a cinema as i am trying to receate the original artdecco design which as been hidden away above a false ceiling many thanks Paul Milner
I worked at this cinema in 1966
would like to hear from you
hi,
im a film location manager looking for a place with charachter to film for 6 weeks from october 15th. Do you have any information on the cinema in question in Preston?
Many thanks
Dan Connolly
07979 592113
When the bingo club use had ceased in March 1986, the building began use as the Empire Skate Building (a skating area) and a nightclub in another section. The front facade had been reduced in height by then.
The Ritz Cinema opened on 23rd March 1937 with George Formby in “Keep Fit”. The original seating capacity was for 1,650 in a stadium plan, with no overhanging balcony.
Another shot of the Ritz:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/340783642/
exterior in 1938:
View link
Opened by the The Preston Palladium Cinema Co. circuit.
Entrance block empty and unused, auditorium use unable to see.