Pavilion Cinema

Seaview is a small Edwardian resort located on the north-eastern corner of the Isle of Wight, overlooking the Solent.

The Pavilion building was first erected at Bembridge, but later bought, around 1909, by postmaster Dickie Dawson of Regent House, Seaview. He arranged for William Chick, who operated a carters business, to transport the dismantled hall to Seaview on a horse drawn cart.

Thomas Lander managed the Pavilion, and took over ownership when Dickie Dawson died. The building seated about 200 on the lower floor plus about 25 in the gallery. Six large mirrors helped make it appear larger. It was used for a variety of activities, including concerts and roller skating (for which there was a handrail on each side!).

Moving pictures were introduced to the Pavilion in about 1916, but the evening performances were never well patronised, despite the lack of a bus service to Ryde at night.

After the war the hall was mainly used for dances and concert parties, although another attempt was made to provide film shows, this time by a Mr Mead. However, the opening of the Scala Cinema, at Ryde, in 1921, and the improved bus service, led to another failure. (The Scala Cinema later became the Plaza Cinema: see separate Cinema Treasures entry.)

Before the Isle of Wight Sports Club was built, the Pavilion was used as a badminton club, and also as a private school by a Mrs Bishop. Miss Lilian Lander, daughter of the proprietor, organised Sunday treats there and it was the venue for Seaview Horticultural Society shows.

When Mr Lander died in 1933 his widow managed the Pavilion, but later sold it to a Miss Noakes, of Little Selsdon (now Robin Hill). Interested in music and the theatre, she made considerable improvements, increasing the seating capacity by about 70, adding a new entrance hall, cloakroom and ticket office, central heating, proscenium and drop curtains. The re-opening featured radio entertainer Leonard Henry and several other well-known artistes. Later, dramatic plays were presented by Miss Bremner.

During World War II it was used as a fibreglass factory and the manufacture of number plates. After World War II the Pavilion was sold and transformed into a night club. Bill Bonnick, owner of the Old Fort Café, became the next owner, but the various organisations in the village failed to make full use of the facilities offered.

In 1951 yet another attempt was made to use it as a cinema. Actor Barry Jones, star of the inaugural feature, “The Clouded Yellow”, performed the opening ceremony at the Pavilion Cinema.

According to the Kinematograph Year Book for 1953, the Pavilion Cinema was by then being operated by Bill Waller, of Brixton, London. There were 250 seats, with two shows daily, and two changes of programme each week. The proscenium was 14ft wide, the stage 16ft deep and there were two dressing rooms. A Western Electric(WE) sound system had been installed.

Unfortunately, with audiences seldom numbering no more than 10, this venture also failed and was closed by 1958.

The Pavilion was then used for a short time for making glass-fibre boats, and for light engineering. For long periods it was left unoccupied.

The Spithead Masonic Lodge took ownership in August 1970 and it was renamed the Masonic Hall.

(Original research from ‘Memories of Old Seaview’ by Jack Cheverton and Sidney Matthews, circa 1970’s.)

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