Regal Entertainment Centre
Lewis Lane,
Cirencester,
GL7 1EA
Lewis Lane,
Cirencester,
GL7 1EA
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated British Cinemas Ltd., Star Cinemas
Architects: Harold Seymour Scott
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Regal Cinema, ABC
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Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The Regal Cinema was opened on 29th November 1937. It was built by a Birmingham based firm, and the architect Harold S. Scott was also one of the directors. It had a 34 feet wide proscenium and a 12 feet deep stage. There were two dressing rooms.
The Regal Cinema was taken over by Associated British Cinemas(ABC) in 1943, operating through their Mayfair Circuit. In 1963 it was re-named ABC.
On 30th June 1969 it was taken over by the Leeds based Star Cinemas chain, and reverted back to the name Regal Cinema. On 2nd March 1975, it was taken back by ABC, but retained the Regal name. The Regal Cinema was closed as a single screen on 28th March 1977.
It was converted into a bingo club. Now operated by EMI, two video cinemas were created within the building, with each seating 150 opening on 23rd July 1981. These were later converted to 35mm film projection. Taken over by an independent operator, the bingo club and twin screen cinemas operated for many more years as the Regal Entertainment Centre and were closed on 27th November 2003. The Regal Cinema was demolished in 2004.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
The Regal was still operating in July 2003, when manager Mike Flook made me very welcome (we had first met at the Rebel, Bude, when he ran that cinema) and I was able to take my series of photographs.
I remember watching the first Pirates of the Caribbean film here. This this was released 8th August 2003 in the Uk so it was still open then but due to close at any moment.
The Mayfair Circuit as an Oddity They were all owned by Essoldo and Managed by ABC
John Angle took over the building from EMI and installed 35mm Projection . These were supplied by Les Castree who kept a lot of independents cinemas in business with his sensible terms
According to a press cutting in the Cinema Theatre Association Archive, the Regal closed on Thursday 27th November 2003. Presumably both screens were operating on that final day, but “Calendar Girls”, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, was said to be “the final film”. 22 houses, plus six flats and maisonettes, were due to be built on the site. Perhaps indicative of many situations when cinemas close down, one 32 year old member of that last night audience, who lived in the town, said “It’s a throwback to what I remember as a kid. It’s a great shame it’s closing” - before admitting this was his first visit!