Bideford College Cinema

In Bideford, Devon, the closure of the Strand Cinema in May 1981 (see separate Cinema Treasures entry) left the town without big-screen entertainment. Presumably as a way of remedying this, the theatre at Bideford College was opened for public film shows from around 1988, using 16mm projectors.

Live shows continued, interspersed with the films. However, in March 1998, the film shows were suspended when the projection equipment failed.

In July 1998 a major refurbishment was announced. In October 1998 a grant of £45,000 was received from Bideford Bridge Trust, enabling the purchase of the latest projection and sound equipment. It was hoped the cinema would re-open at Easter 1999.

Torridge District Council gave a further £12,000 in December 1998, which was used to install 181 new seats. These can be folded away electronically at the back, enabling the hall to host a wider variety of events.

The cinema eventually re-opened on 30th April 1999 with “Shakespeare in Love”, starring Joseph Fiennes. Films were shown seven nights a week, except for occasional stage productions. The original 16mm projection equipment had been replaced by 35mm projectors and Dolby Surround sound had been installed. A 38ft wide screen was also installed. In a nice nod to days gone by, the National Anthem was played at the end of each evening.

It is unclear when the regular public film shows ceased. However, film shows are continuing on a part-time basis, overseen by Bideford Cinema. This, in turn, is run by Bideford Film Society, a not-for-profit community group founded in 2001. (Bideford Cinema also presents films at Kingsley School, Northdown Road, Bideford). The Bideford College Cinema was demolished in 2007.

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

Bideford_Cinema_Projectionist on April 16, 2024 at 8:31 am

When the cinema reopened on 30-04-99, I was an usher and spent every minute I wasn’t at school working there.1999 was a great year to be able to watch everything for free.

Despite trying everything they could, including midnight showings of cult classics,getting every blockbuster released that year and all sorts of special offers, the cinema struggled to gain an audience and it stopped showing films in 2000, I forget the precise date.

The Bideford Film Society took over the running of the cinema in 2001 and started showing films on Friday and Saturday evenings only. I trained to be one of the projectionists and the Film Society was able to keep the place running.

I left in 2005, but The Film Society is still showing films in Bideford, now at Kingsley School Theatre.

I’m afraid to say that The Bideford College Theatre, pictured above, was demolished entirely in 2007, when construction of the new College began, I was able to take a few photos inside just a few days before they tore it down.

Bideford_Cinema_Projectionist on April 17, 2024 at 2:21 am

I can remember working one weekend when a man came to measure the secreen, take photos and look at the new projector, presumably the person who supplied the information above.

The National Anthem was not played at the end of each evening, I suspect that was something made up by our manager at the time as a joke, he enjoyed that kind of thing.