The Regal was designed by J.J. Perrott and was operated by the Noyce family for its entire life. Emily Wood was an usherette for most of the time. One of its claims to fame was that it did not originally have toilets.
Opened on 30 July 1932. When all the performances were eventually finished the opening film was “Up for the Cup”. Pop concerts were held here in the 1960s with Gene Pitney and The Kinks just two of the familiar names to grace the stage. In 1935 the chief operator was killed when two curtain weights fell on top of him.
The building is now home to Playworld, an indoor play centre with roller skating facilites, set up by Raj Handa, which opened on 30 May 2014. This scuppered plans by another businessman to open a restaurant in the former cinema. The building is also remembered as being home to Lodge’s supermarket back in the day.
Heron Foods opened its biggest store yet here in April 2016. This is at least the fourth supermarket to occupy the former cinema including Dee Discount, Gateway and Kwik Save.
Opened by 31-year-old George Brightly at a cost of £10,000. A short-lived venture it closed five months later in November 1977. Brightly’s wife was the cashier and usherette.
The Gaiety in O'Connell Street opened Friday 14 February 1936, the enterprise of a Donald McGregor along with Miss Mary Boland who was also the manageress. They previously ran the Rink Cinema in the town. It was designed by E.T. Aiken from Dowling & Aiken and had a balcony, with a terrazzo floor in the foyer. The decorative work was carried out by Patrick McGrath, and the 850-seat auditorium had a Philips Wide Range Sound System installed. The first film to be screened was “Roberta” with “The Mills of the Gods” following on the Sunday. The cinema closed on 7 May 1976 with “Harry and Tonto”. After a period of dereliction it was demolished and the site is now the entrance to Dunnes stores. Films were also screened at the Town Hall until about 1950 when it was damaged by fire.
The Aviator pub closed in February 2016 following a series of brawls but reopened two months later as The Yard after a £180,000 refurbishment. It is managed by Graham and Barbara Yellow and now features a wood-burning pizza oven.
The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Happiness pub opened in the former cinema on 8 November 2014. The centre piece is an exposed section of the old Victorian shopping arcade with a first-floor balcony that serves as a cocktail bar and pool space.
The Regal was home to a Netto supermarket and then a Job Lot supermarket, a concept in shopping whereby the company offers excess or out-of-date stock at a knock-down price. In 2013 the area was bulldozed for a new town centre shopping area that included a Tesco store but not entirely on the site of the cinema.
The auditorium on the lower level was converted to an ice-skating rink in the 1970s with roller-skating on the stage area. It was later the Colossus nightclub which had closed by 2010. The DJ’s Sports Bar posted a message on Facebook in February 2017 thanking punters for their custom so I take it this has now closed. This provides the opportunity for Premier Inn which proposed a hotel for the site in 2015 to take another look at the proposition.
The building was designed by William Davidson along with Messrs Jenkins & Marr and is built from red granite. The foundation stone was laid on 1 September 1900. The hall hosts aerobics, dance classics, kickboxing and dog obedience training, and is available for parties, craft fayres and exhibitions. As of February 2017 two films are screened every fortnight on Sundays and occasionally on Saturdays.
Opening film Sixtus the Fifth and closing film Lure of the South Seas. Named after Glynn Hill who founded Glynn Animated Picture Company with G.E. Bulford. Subsequent uses included a fruit & veg store, a car showroom, House of Holland store, and of course the bar, previously Edwards. It was gutted by fire at some point and was indeed rebuilt as the previous comment suggests.
The earliest Kine Year Book I can lay my hands on is 1923 and the Picture House is already listed.
The Regal was designed by J.J. Perrott and was operated by the Noyce family for its entire life. Emily Wood was an usherette for most of the time. One of its claims to fame was that it did not originally have toilets.
Last listed in the Kine Year Books in 1958. Was the Shotz bar after All Stars but even that now seems to have closed.
Forgot to mention that the auditorium was seriously damaged by fire in 1973 and had to be rebuilt.
Last appears in the Kine Year Books in 1970. Originally operated by A.C. Pindar but management showing as the Roxy in Kelso from the mid-1950s.
Opened on 30 July 1932. When all the performances were eventually finished the opening film was “Up for the Cup”. Pop concerts were held here in the 1960s with Gene Pitney and The Kinks just two of the familiar names to grace the stage. In 1935 the chief operator was killed when two curtain weights fell on top of him.
Closed 17 July 1963 with “A Prize to Arms”
The Caley Picture House pub opened in the former cinema on 13 December 2016.
Building damaged by fire 28 February 2016.
The late-night bar opened on 3 May 2013 and is spread across two floors. Does not open until 9pm.
The building is now home to Playworld, an indoor play centre with roller skating facilites, set up by Raj Handa, which opened on 30 May 2014. This scuppered plans by another businessman to open a restaurant in the former cinema. The building is also remembered as being home to Lodge’s supermarket back in the day.
Heron Foods opened its biggest store yet here in April 2016. This is at least the fourth supermarket to occupy the former cinema including Dee Discount, Gateway and Kwik Save.
Opened by 31-year-old George Brightly at a cost of £10,000. A short-lived venture it closed five months later in November 1977. Brightly’s wife was the cashier and usherette.
Opened fully 10 October 1997 but had a special charity screening of Disney’s “Hercules” the day before.
The Gaiety in O'Connell Street opened Friday 14 February 1936, the enterprise of a Donald McGregor along with Miss Mary Boland who was also the manageress. They previously ran the Rink Cinema in the town. It was designed by E.T. Aiken from Dowling & Aiken and had a balcony, with a terrazzo floor in the foyer. The decorative work was carried out by Patrick McGrath, and the 850-seat auditorium had a Philips Wide Range Sound System installed. The first film to be screened was “Roberta” with “The Mills of the Gods” following on the Sunday. The cinema closed on 7 May 1976 with “Harry and Tonto”. After a period of dereliction it was demolished and the site is now the entrance to Dunnes stores. Films were also screened at the Town Hall until about 1950 when it was damaged by fire.
The Aviator pub closed in February 2016 following a series of brawls but reopened two months later as The Yard after a £180,000 refurbishment. It is managed by Graham and Barbara Yellow and now features a wood-burning pizza oven.
The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Happiness pub opened in the former cinema on 8 November 2014. The centre piece is an exposed section of the old Victorian shopping arcade with a first-floor balcony that serves as a cocktail bar and pool space.
Cash & Carry closed by September 2016 with building empty.
Estate Agents in September 2016.
Shoe Zone shop in September 2016.
The Regal was home to a Netto supermarket and then a Job Lot supermarket, a concept in shopping whereby the company offers excess or out-of-date stock at a knock-down price. In 2013 the area was bulldozed for a new town centre shopping area that included a Tesco store but not entirely on the site of the cinema.
The auditorium on the lower level was converted to an ice-skating rink in the 1970s with roller-skating on the stage area. It was later the Colossus nightclub which had closed by 2010. The DJ’s Sports Bar posted a message on Facebook in February 2017 thanking punters for their custom so I take it this has now closed. This provides the opportunity for Premier Inn which proposed a hotel for the site in 2015 to take another look at the proposition.
Gracie Fields once lived here as commemorated by the blue plaque. Unable to find any other reference to this cinema.
The building was designed by William Davidson along with Messrs Jenkins & Marr and is built from red granite. The foundation stone was laid on 1 September 1900. The hall hosts aerobics, dance classics, kickboxing and dog obedience training, and is available for parties, craft fayres and exhibitions. As of February 2017 two films are screened every fortnight on Sundays and occasionally on Saturdays.
Opening film Sixtus the Fifth and closing film Lure of the South Seas. Named after Glynn Hill who founded Glynn Animated Picture Company with G.E. Bulford. Subsequent uses included a fruit & veg store, a car showroom, House of Holland store, and of course the bar, previously Edwards. It was gutted by fire at some point and was indeed rebuilt as the previous comment suggests.