Queen's Hall Cinema

terry on July 25, 2018 at 3:00 pm

Photo uploaded: The Queens on a Market Day in the late 1960’s when the venue would only recently have seen its change of use to Bingo. As can be seen , the town was still vibrant and bustling back then. In relative terms, I suppose it still is fairly busy when compared with nearby market towns of similar size such as Bishop Auckland.

At least Bishop Auckland retains one building (the Hippodrome) which could be restored to theatrical use whereas Chester Le Street lost its very last when the Queens was destroyed in the inferno of 1994.

terry on April 21, 2018 at 11:19 pm

This was the last cinema building to survive in Chester Le Street prior to its destruction by fire (see photos section for more details).

No doubt Bingo, as in the case of many former cinemas, would have run its course here but it would have made a fine Wetherspoon’s Pub. The latter organisation did establish themselves in the town within new purpose built premises known as ‘The Wicket Gate’ – but how I wish they were at the Queens!

terry on June 16, 2016 at 6:45 pm

From the Chester – le – Street Heritage Group:–

http://www.chesterlestreetheritage.org/page26.html