Initially after closure, the former cinema was turned into the Scala Bingo Club by Cornwall Cinema Bingo Clubs. It closed in 1973 when the former King’s Cinema closed as a cinema and was re-opened as a bingo club by the same company. The bingo clubs traded as a part of the Cornwall Cinemas circuit.
Originally on Pier Road, the venue was known as The Kursaal. A windmill stood next to the building, which was later demolished. Originally the Kursaal had a tin sheet roof, with a lower pitch to it.
Later called The Casino, it’s possible that it was used as a bingo hall. The facade was replaced, along with the pitch of the auditorium. I have uploaded pictures of the original building as built, and the later use as a ‘casino’ as it was called, both with the windmill in the background.
An advertisement in a booklet promoting the area by the Prestatyn Urban District Council for 1934-35 has the cinema called Scala Super Cinema, operated by Saronie’s Enterprises. Seat prices shown are: Circle 1/6, booked 1/10, Stalls 1/- and Front Stalls 7d. Matinees on all wet days during July and August. I have uploaded a picture of this advertisement.
Having been closed and boarded up since 2013, activity has been seen at this former cinema more recently. The cinema is being gutted out completely to create a trampolining centre.
In 1921, the cinema is listed in a street directory as being Poole’s Picture Palace located between Bass & Co. at 113A and the Blue Taxi-Cabs Office, Lamb Hotel at 116 Upper High Street.
The projection room of the New Cinema makes an appearance in Ideal Kinema magazine dated 2nd August, 1934, so the cinema must have opened near to that date. It may well get a mention in an issue or two prior or after this issue date.
Sadly, the Queen’s Hotel and the former cinema area, last used as a market hall, were demolished and a new Queen’s Market has been built on the site. Plans were first presented in 2018 by the Council, the building fronting the promenade (by then the Savoy Hotel & Fusion Nightclub) being described as ‘dilapidated with no active uses on upper floors and significant void levels on the ground floor’. The seperate Queen’s Market was still in use as such. The overall cost of replacement was £14.5m for a glass and metal structure.
Along with the market, the space also contains a food hall, leisure facilities and a multi-use hall area.
An altogether very welcome conclusion for this site. Facade retained and restored, a lovely cinema returned to the site with all the modern bells and whistles, plus the all to common flats built as well.
A true model of what can be done given the will.
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.
Initially after closure, the former cinema was turned into the Scala Bingo Club by Cornwall Cinema Bingo Clubs. It closed in 1973 when the former King’s Cinema closed as a cinema and was re-opened as a bingo club by the same company. The bingo clubs traded as a part of the Cornwall Cinemas circuit.
Photograph now added whilst Carrimore’s taken in the 1960’s.
Originally on Pier Road, the venue was known as The Kursaal. A windmill stood next to the building, which was later demolished. Originally the Kursaal had a tin sheet roof, with a lower pitch to it.
Later called The Casino, it’s possible that it was used as a bingo hall. The facade was replaced, along with the pitch of the auditorium. I have uploaded pictures of the original building as built, and the later use as a ‘casino’ as it was called, both with the windmill in the background.
An advertisement in a booklet promoting the area by the Prestatyn Urban District Council for 1934-35 has the cinema called Scala Super Cinema, operated by Saronie’s Enterprises. Seat prices shown are: Circle 1/6, booked 1/10, Stalls 1/- and Front Stalls 7d. Matinees on all wet days during July and August. I have uploaded a picture of this advertisement.
Having been closed and boarded up since 2013, activity has been seen at this former cinema more recently. The cinema is being gutted out completely to create a trampolining centre.
Star also operated a bingo club within the building, presumably in the former circle area?
In 1921, the cinema is listed in a street directory as being Poole’s Picture Palace located between Bass & Co. at 113A and the Blue Taxi-Cabs Office, Lamb Hotel at 116 Upper High Street.
Good news! The Plaza has re-opened!
The projection room of the New Cinema makes an appearance in Ideal Kinema magazine dated 2nd August, 1934, so the cinema must have opened near to that date. It may well get a mention in an issue or two prior or after this issue date.
Sadly, the Queen’s Hotel and the former cinema area, last used as a market hall, were demolished and a new Queen’s Market has been built on the site. Plans were first presented in 2018 by the Council, the building fronting the promenade (by then the Savoy Hotel & Fusion Nightclub) being described as ‘dilapidated with no active uses on upper floors and significant void levels on the ground floor’. The seperate Queen’s Market was still in use as such. The overall cost of replacement was £14.5m for a glass and metal structure.
Along with the market, the space also contains a food hall, leisure facilities and a multi-use hall area.
This was built where the boiler house/chimney stack and coal bunker was located previously.
An altogether very welcome conclusion for this site. Facade retained and restored, a lovely cinema returned to the site with all the modern bells and whistles, plus the all to common flats built as well. A true model of what can be done given the will.
A recent change of ownership means a new name. Now known as the North Bay Playhouse.
Buzz Bingo is set to close on 31st January, 2026.
A large fire all but finished off this cinema in 1962. However, by then, its fate had already been decided and demolition came the following year.
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.