Regal Cinema

Located in the Fortuneswell district on the Isle of Portland, to the south of Weymouth, Dorset. It was sited on Fortuneswell, next to St. John’s Church. The Regal Cinema was billed as a “Luxury Kinema” when it opened in 1932. It was designed in an Art Deco style by architectural firm Andrews & Andrews, based in Weymouth. It was equipped with a British Talking Pictures(BTP) sound system. All seating was on a single floor. It was built for and operated by the Herbert family, well known travelling showmen. In 1941 the roof was damaged by German bombs and it was closed for several weeks while repairs were carried out. The Regal Cinema was closed in 1961. It was reopened by a new operator in 1963 specializing in (X) Certificate films which were popular with sailors based at the Royal Navy Base, Portland.

In the late-1960’s the cinema closed and went over to use as a bingo club, but occassionally showed films. It became a nightclub named Rumours around 1990 and on the evening of 31st August 1992 it was badly damaged in an arson fire attack. In June 1998 the remains of the building were sold to Weymouth & Portland Borough Council who proposed to build a block of six flats on the site, and it was soon demolished and the flats were built, set back from the road to give a better view of St. John’s Church.

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