Urban Explorers have entered this complex. The place has been stripped of all seating and projection equipment. Businesses nearby have also closed, and it’s slated for demolition already!
To answer surf_digby, the former auditorium is known as Princess Works, Lavender Walk, Pontefract Lane, Leeds, LS9 8JB. It currently (2026) has Brian Rook (Builders) Ltd. as the occupant.
This cinema was built behind the Royal Exchange Building, and used the Royal Exchange Chambers entrance to the building to gain access to it. This was a corner entrance to the building, I have uploaded a picture of the building showing this entrance.
The facade, as shown in the current picture is a completely new rebuild for retail and flats above, only the former auditorium remains unaltered behind the new. The independent operator after ABC was Percy Dyche in 1944, Western Electric sound is noted as well as 547 seats, proscenium width was 25ft. according to the 1944 KYB.
The Cavendish is still listed in the 1966 KYB, with 600 seats operated by Palace (Keighley) Ltd. but booked by W.A. Judge in Leeds. The screen is quoted as being 19ft by 11ft within the 33ft proscenium.
I really have my doubts about the pictures of the cinema posted onto here. The location according to the old map uploaded has been destroyed, swallowed up by the Airedale Centre which was built around 1968 and updated with a new a roof in the 1980’s. The postcode of Coffee Love, approximately located where the cinema was is BD21 3PQ. The Wild’s Bakery shown is located the wrong side of the road to where the cinema used to be, and is at Low Street, Airedale Centre, with a postcode of BD21 3PP.
Previously called the Spartan Theater. The Alconbury Theater closed on the 3rd March, 2013. The last film was The Hobbit. The theater had opened at the new site in 1960. A deal was struck with Cineworld for permanently reduced priced admissions for those serving at both RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth. The last operators were known as The Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
This road was previously a part of Church Street before being renamed. L/Cpl Stephen Shaw received his Military Cross for exceptional bravery whilst serving in Afghanistan. For more information on this military hero, please search his name online.
The Picture Palace is still listed in the 1966 KYB as being operated by Star Cinemas of Leeds, seating 649 with a Western Electric sound system. I suspect that the 1964 bingo advertising was Cine-Bingo, where both cinema and bingo operated in the same premises on a shared basis. Star often did this to test the waters before committing to bingo full-time.
Still listed in the 1966 KYB fitted for CinemaScope, still operated by the Bassett Cinemas circuit, booked at the Savoy, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Western Electric sound, 305 seats, and three changes weekly.
Closed a little later, as there is a programme from April 1959 in the local history collection. The projection room was housed on the upper floor of a brick structure, thought to have been the coaching house for the Bell Inn, whilst below at ground level was the bicycle store.
The cinema was a ‘temporary’ structure from after the war had come to an end that was attached to the permanent structure. There were 15 rows of 10 seats, so 150 seats in total all on one level. The Mason Family operated this cinema as well as the cinemas in Berkeley and Drybrook.
All that I can add information wise to David’s information above is that the 1944 KYB has the proprietors as the Egremont Cinema Ltd. 750 seats were declared and a BTH sound system. Pictures and Variety also gets a mention with the stage depth of 16ft. deep, the proscenium width is declared at 30ft. There was also the Empire Dance Hall attached to the premises.
By 1966, the KYB lists the same proprietors, seating had been reduced to 681 seats. Now fitted for CinemaScope, the screen was 26ft wide within the same 30ft proscenium. A Western Electric sound system was now fitted, with four changes of programme each week. The Empire Dance Hall no longer gets any mention.
The name was changed to ‘The Palace’ in its final years, as can be seen in the photo that I’ve uploaded, hence the ‘New’ Palace being built next door later on. The plot of land remained in the ownership of Fred Marchant until he sold the New Palace to Southan Morris, who in turned sold it to Union Cinemas. This then, gave Union the building plot for the Union to be built.
Urban Explorers have entered this complex. The place has been stripped of all seating and projection equipment. Businesses nearby have also closed, and it’s slated for demolition already!
The fire was on Wednesday, 24th June, 1970.
To answer surf_digby, the former auditorium is known as Princess Works, Lavender Walk, Pontefract Lane, Leeds, LS9 8JB. It currently (2026) has Brian Rook (Builders) Ltd. as the occupant.
Operated as the Palace Cinema by P.H. (Holbeck) Ltd. in 1944.
This cinema was built behind the Royal Exchange Building, and used the Royal Exchange Chambers entrance to the building to gain access to it. This was a corner entrance to the building, I have uploaded a picture of the building showing this entrance.
First film shown was ‘Sailing Along’ starring Jessie Matthews and Barry MacKay (1938).
The facade, as shown in the current picture is a completely new rebuild for retail and flats above, only the former auditorium remains unaltered behind the new. The independent operator after ABC was Percy Dyche in 1944, Western Electric sound is noted as well as 547 seats, proscenium width was 25ft. according to the 1944 KYB.
Postcode should be CA12 4NB, there is no such postcode as CA13 5HL.
Opened by the General Cinema Theatres circuit, it passed to Lou Morris in 1947.
The Cavendish is still listed in the 1966 KYB, with 600 seats operated by Palace (Keighley) Ltd. but booked by W.A. Judge in Leeds. The screen is quoted as being 19ft by 11ft within the 33ft proscenium.
I really have my doubts about the pictures of the cinema posted onto here. The location according to the old map uploaded has been destroyed, swallowed up by the Airedale Centre which was built around 1968 and updated with a new a roof in the 1980’s. The postcode of Coffee Love, approximately located where the cinema was is BD21 3PQ. The Wild’s Bakery shown is located the wrong side of the road to where the cinema used to be, and is at Low Street, Airedale Centre, with a postcode of BD21 3PP.
By 1944 the cinema was operated by J.F.I. Minton trading as County Cinema Enterprises, Market Street, Castle Donington.
Address should be 2, Northfield Road, EX34 8AL.
The building still stands within the USAF controlled RAF Alconbury site. As such, it is still off-limits to the general public.
Previously called the Spartan Theater. The Alconbury Theater closed on the 3rd March, 2013. The last film was The Hobbit. The theater had opened at the new site in 1960. A deal was struck with Cineworld for permanently reduced priced admissions for those serving at both RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth. The last operators were known as The Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
In 1944 the cinema was operated by Majestic Cinema (Pocklington) Ltd., but it was booked by the Tower, Leeds.
This road was previously a part of Church Street before being renamed. L/Cpl Stephen Shaw received his Military Cross for exceptional bravery whilst serving in Afghanistan. For more information on this military hero, please search his name online.
The Picture Palace is still listed in the 1966 KYB as being operated by Star Cinemas of Leeds, seating 649 with a Western Electric sound system. I suspect that the 1964 bingo advertising was Cine-Bingo, where both cinema and bingo operated in the same premises on a shared basis. Star often did this to test the waters before committing to bingo full-time.
More recently (July 2025), the building has been smartened up nicely and is home to Porcelain Twenty Two, wall and floor tile importers.
Last used as a garage workshop for truck repairs. The auditorium had been gutted at ground level, but the ceiling from cinema days was still intact.
Still listed in the 1966 KYB fitted for CinemaScope, still operated by the Bassett Cinemas circuit, booked at the Savoy, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Western Electric sound, 305 seats, and three changes weekly.
Closed a little later, as there is a programme from April 1959 in the local history collection. The projection room was housed on the upper floor of a brick structure, thought to have been the coaching house for the Bell Inn, whilst below at ground level was the bicycle store. The cinema was a ‘temporary’ structure from after the war had come to an end that was attached to the permanent structure. There were 15 rows of 10 seats, so 150 seats in total all on one level. The Mason Family operated this cinema as well as the cinemas in Berkeley and Drybrook.
All that I can add information wise to David’s information above is that the 1944 KYB has the proprietors as the Egremont Cinema Ltd. 750 seats were declared and a BTH sound system. Pictures and Variety also gets a mention with the stage depth of 16ft. deep, the proscenium width is declared at 30ft. There was also the Empire Dance Hall attached to the premises. By 1966, the KYB lists the same proprietors, seating had been reduced to 681 seats. Now fitted for CinemaScope, the screen was 26ft wide within the same 30ft proscenium. A Western Electric sound system was now fitted, with four changes of programme each week. The Empire Dance Hall no longer gets any mention.
The name was changed to ‘The Palace’ in its final years, as can be seen in the photo that I’ve uploaded, hence the ‘New’ Palace being built next door later on. The plot of land remained in the ownership of Fred Marchant until he sold the New Palace to Southan Morris, who in turned sold it to Union Cinemas. This then, gave Union the building plot for the Union to be built.
Prior to CMA’s ownership, the 1944 KYB has the proprietors as being P. & Q. Traders Ltd., with the films booked in Manchester.