IMC Newtownards
Circular Road and Blair Mayne Road S.,
Newtownards,
BT23 4EX
Circular Road and Blair Mayne Road S.,
Newtownards,
BT23 4EX
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Related Websites
IMC Cinemas (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: IMC Cinemas
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: Movieland Newtownards
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
440289.182.7000
Nearby Theaters
Located adjacent to the Ards Shopping Centre, at the junction of Circular Road and Blair Mayne Road South. Movieland opened on 19th March 1999 with just under 1,000 seats. It was owned and operated by local businessman Ernie Watson.
An unusual feature of the cinema is the location of a fully working theatre organ that was positioned on a ledge over the concession stand in the foyer. It was a Compton 3Manual/8Rank instrument, which was originally installed in 1936, in the Ambassador Cinema (later Odeon), Hounslow, Middlesex in the west of Greater London, England.
Sadly, Ernie Watson passed away on 3rd May 2017. In early-2018, the cinema was sold to Irish Multiplex Cinemas by his sister, and it joined their circuit. It was rebranded in May 2023. The Compton organ was played for the final time in February 2018, by regular organist Ivan Coey, before being dismantled and put into storage, pending its sale.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
My scanned photographs of the exterior were taken in March 2000, and my scanned photographs of the cinema organ were taken in September 2008. The Movieland is owned and operated by local businessman Ernie Watson.
Unfortunately, the original owner of Movieland appears to have passed away last year. The takeover this year looks like it will see a few changes with one casualty being the cinema organ currently in pieces, presumably being dismantled for removal. Large Irish cinema chains are fairly unsympathetic towards historical features like these!
Obviously the Compton doesnt fit in with IMC`s business plan!Shame on them.
Movieland officially opened on 19 March 1999. The report in the local paper said it had a seating capacity of almost 1,000. One of the six screens had a small stage for shows and seminars. There was also a restaurant on the first floor.
By June 2023 the building had been been rebranded as IMC.