Ritz Cinema

134 Church Street,
Preston, PR1 3BT

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Star Cinemas

Architects: George Edward Tonge

Styles: Art Deco

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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.

Contributed by Ian Grundy

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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

pauldessy on August 7, 2004 at 4:13 pm

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

brianw on September 9, 2004 at 12:59 pm

I worked at this cinema in 1966
would like to hear from you

danconnolly on August 24, 2005 at 4:09 am

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

Ken Roe on August 24, 2005 at 6:10 am

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.

Ken Roe on November 30, 2005 at 3:37 pm

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.