Comments from Biffaskin

Showing 276 - 300 of 600 comments

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Studio X & Studio 2 on Mar 28, 2023 at 6:56 pm

The wedding venue closed in 2019. Unused since then, proposals to demolish the more modern dance hall/bingo club at the rear of the Georgian terrace to be replaced with flats were made in July 2022. The flats conversion would include the older (Listed) Georgian terrace space at ground level as well.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about J & A Cinema on Mar 26, 2023 at 10:08 am

J&A sold the bingo operation to Granada Bingo initially becoming a Gala Club upon the merger with Coral in 1991. Closed in 2017 for town centre redevelopment, the club was on Telegraph Way.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Empire Cinema on Mar 25, 2023 at 9:41 pm

This was the Downs family’s first site where they tried bingo, opening under the Cosmo Bingo name. The club was later transferred to the New Princes Cinema, Stalybridge under the same club name.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about New Princes Cinema on Mar 25, 2023 at 9:35 pm

Last operated as Cosmo Bingo by the Downs family, they opened this venue upon the closure of their club in the former Empire, Mossley. Closed early 1980’s following a fire.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Embassy Cinema on Mar 3, 2023 at 10:52 am

Architect was R. A. Thomas

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Savoy Cinema on Mar 3, 2023 at 10:48 am

Architect was R. A. Thomas.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Savoy Cinema on Mar 3, 2023 at 10:46 am

The parade of shops, Savoy Buildings still survive.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Palladium Cinema on Feb 2, 2023 at 8:40 pm

The building had various names, including Lyric Hall, Operetta House, Central Hall and Central Cinema. The most popular name, however, was Cheetham’s – after the charismatic showman, cinema proprietor and film maker Arthur Cheetham. Cheetham’s opened as Rhyl’s first cinema in 1906.

Building now known as Lyric Building, Market Street, LL18 1RG.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Rex Cinema on Jan 31, 2023 at 6:38 pm

Nothing remains of this cinema now. The offices mentioned in the text are no more, only the old windmill is still extant, surrounded by modern student flats…

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Carlton Cinema on Jan 31, 2023 at 6:34 pm

Closure as a cinema came on 4th November, 1961.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Plaza Cinema on Jan 31, 2023 at 6:29 pm

Address is 67, New Hall Lane, PR1 5NY. The mill has since also been demolished for further housing.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Star Cinema on Jan 31, 2023 at 6:15 pm

The map location is way out of the former cinema’s actual location!

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Rialto Cinema on Jan 31, 2023 at 6:00 pm

Located on the corner of St. Barnabas’ Place, PR1 1QJ, following the devastating fire, the building was demolished and new housing now stands on the site.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about New Majestic Cinema on Jan 9, 2023 at 3:41 pm

The Majestic also had a spell as the Majestic Bingo & Social Club, opening and closure dates as such I have yet to establish.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Showcase Cinemas Stockton-on-Tees on Dec 26, 2022 at 1:18 pm

The Teeside retail and leisure parks are split over the boundaries of two authorities. Technically, the retail park is in Stockton-on-Tees, whereas the leisure park is in Middlesbrough!

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Cinedrome on Dec 26, 2022 at 8:57 am

The old market building still stands at 27 Fore Street, the Boots the Chemists having built a single floor extension outwards with the curved end and doorways, which had been open-space for market stalls. My grandmother went to the cinema in the early 30’s as a child, it was called the Cinedrome then, and owned by E.J. & W. E. Pope who opened the Cinedrome, later called the Carlton Cinema, hence one closing and the other opening at the same time. The Pope’s also operated the Carlton in Okehampton.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Concorde Cinema 1 & 2 on Dec 25, 2022 at 1:48 pm

Star renamed the cinema Concorde, as they opened another cinema in the city called Studio Cinemas.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Concorde Cinema 1 & 2 on Dec 25, 2022 at 1:45 pm

Please note that the cinema was called Concorde, with an E on the end, as per the signage in the photos!

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Llanelly Cinema on Dec 25, 2022 at 1:00 pm

Operated by Star as a bingo club.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Norbury Cinema on Dec 16, 2022 at 7:07 pm

Demolished recently, for a new retail outlet with flats above and behind to be built.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Playhouse Cinema on Dec 11, 2022 at 4:43 pm

I’ve uploaded this OS map, as it shows that the original facade was in line with the rest of the street. It can be seen painted blue in the photos with plain render at the top sneaking above the later added frontage. It is possible therefor, that the whole of the cinema has been demolished if this later facade was built whilst a factory.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Weltje Road Cinema on Dec 11, 2022 at 2:43 pm

The road name commemorates the Prince Regent’s chef. Of German descent, Louis Weltje became clerk of the kitchen at the Regent’s Brighton residence (now the Pavilion). He later ran a club in St James together with a pastry shop and restaurant on Pall Mall. He retired to Hammersmith, where he later died in 1810. This road was named after him.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Prince's Electric Picture Theatre on Dec 11, 2022 at 2:27 pm

Postcode W6 9JH will get you in the general area of the former cinema location. Only modern buildings now exist on Down Place itself though.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Frinton Cinema Club on Dec 11, 2022 at 1:22 pm

All of the Victorian shop extensions appear to be residential areas now, with frosted glazing, curtains/blinds etc within. Some basic mouldings at each property divide survives on the former row of shops, so 150 was, indeed, a shop conversion for the cinema club itself.

Biffaskin
Biffaskin commented about Electric Fun Palace on Dec 11, 2022 at 11:48 am

In 2022, Streetview shows a pizza restaurant as operating from this address called Franco Manca.