Regent Cinema
Broad Street,
Lyme Regis,
DT7 3JB
Broad Street,
Lyme Regis,
DT7 3JB
4 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Scott Cinemas (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: Scott Cinemas
Architects: William Henry Watkins
Styles: Art Deco
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Located in Lyme Regis, Dorset. The Regent Cinema opened on 11th October 1937 with Hugh Wakefield in "The Limping Man". It was built for and was operated by an independent exhibitor.
Bristol based architect William Henry Watkins designed a splendid Art Deco style inside the cinema which has seating on a stadium plan, originally the seating capacity was for 560. It has a raised section at the rear, rather than an overhanging balcony. Lighting in the auditorium is of a ‘Holophane’ type, which changes colours on the ceiling. The proscenium opening is 35 feet wide. There was a cafe located on the first floor level.
In recent Years it has been operated by the independent Scott Cinemas chain. The Regent Cinema has been recently restored. From October 2000, English Heritage gave it a Grade II Listed building status.
The Regent Cinema was destroyed by a fire which broke out at 1:20 in the afternoon of 22nd March 2016, while staff were preparing for the cinema to open for the matinee screening of “Hail, Caesar” starring George Clooney.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Some photographs and further details on the Regent Cinema here:
http://www.lymefilm.org.uk/html/cinema.html
More photographs
Exterior
http://flickr.com/photos/ade46/239251075/
Auditorium
http://flickr.com/photos/idleformat/1482561046/
http://flickr.com/photos/idleformat/1482560906/
http://flickr.com/photos/ashdownparkes/620086672/
Very sad news that this beautiful cinema has been gutted by fire. I have visited it a number of times :–(
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/dorset Very sad news!
Why couldn’t it have been one of the horrid multiplexes? They are a blot on the landscape outside and have all the atmosphere of a cold room inside.
The owners have announced today that the cinema will be fully restored – good news!
It is Grade 2 listed, I understand so does this mean that the owners only have to restore the exterior to its pre-fire appearance?
Still (half) standing as of August 2016, still with the movie posters from the month of the fire (Kung Fu Panda 3 and Eddie the Eagle) visible in the foyer.
I went past the cinema on 4 July 2019. Builder’s van parked outside so presumably builder was somewhere inside. No sign of activity but foyer seemed to be in a state of potential refurbishment…
I’ve uploaded two visits in September 2020 and June 2023 to the Photos page. The cinema remains closed but still standing, some noticeable refurbishment work has been done in the three years which can be compared. At least one cinema poster still remains from the 2016 fire in the foyer.