The Regent Centre - a photo on Flickriver

The Regent Centre

Christchurch, Dorset UK.

The cinema opened in 1931 and was built for local solicitor Thomas J Rowley. It was not unusual at the time to build cinemas as a speculative venture. Firstly, it provided employment for local people and secondly it could hopefully be sold on at a profit, to a cinema chain once completed. Rowley was also responsible for the construction of the Talbot and Victoria shopping parades in Winton, Bournemouth. The Victoria Parade incorporated the Victoria cinema later renamed the Ritz.

The Regent seated around 700 patrons in circle and stalls and competed directly with the incumbent Pavilion cinema in Bargates which had belated plans to take over the Regent instead. The Pavilion is another survivor formally known as The British Legion Club.

By the mid 1930's Portsmouth Town Cinemas were the operators. That company also ran the Ritz and the Moderne in Winton. It was operated by Shipman and King cinemas for a very short time in the late 1960's and they did carry out some much needed refurbishment before they were taken over by the Grade organisation and ultimately subsumed into EMI, the music and entertainment conglomerate.

It was closed in 1973 by the then owners Thorm/EMI Screen Entertainment, who by then owned the ABC circuit. The last film show consisted of a double bill namely The Thief Who Came to Dinner' starring Ryan O'Neill plus John Wayne and Ann Margret in The Train Robbers.

At this stage in the life of a cinema it would have been demolished, but once again the insatiable demand for bingo saved the day and the Regent became a Mecca Bingo and Social Club for a further nine years until 1982.

Mecca had a reputation for looking after their buildings but had a policy of painting the interiors in a combination of mauve, pink and dark green! Which was the colour scheme inherited by Christchurch Borough Council when they took over the building soon after Mecca vacated the premises.

As the owners of an empty building, the Council were persuaded by a group of would-be volunteers that it would be a good idea to use the venue for the public good. Thus, it was that in 1983 and from small beginnings, the Regent went from strength to strength until today with its varied programming of films, live shows and broadcasts, it has become an important and very popular venue for the local community.

Text courtesy of www.regentcentre.co.uk/

Taken in: UK / England / Christchurch District / Christchurch (show map)

Taken on: April 29, 2019

Tags:

Christchurch

Dorset

United Kingdom

Cinema

Theatre

Venue

Building

Sign « less

Sets appears in: • Christchurch, Dorset UK • Dorset

Groups appears in: • Canon DSLR User Group • Photography more » • UK Flickr users • Dorset • Photography Corner • Townscapes • Canon Photos • The Flikr Group • IMAGE`S OF BUILDINGS - OLD AND NEW • DORSET IN PICTURES • History Directory • Your Best Photography • This Is England • ****FLiCkr High Quality Photography**** • ¡ World´s Flickers ! • Travel Planet • British Photographers • Images Of England • Canon SLR • Christchurch Dorset • CANON-NO LIMIT • This Is Dorset • ***Flickr Global • this_is_England • Best Photos Around the World • No Limit Photography • Dslr Photography • Dorset Camera Club • Historical England • The world through the viewfinder of your camera • Digital SLR Photography Magazine • Canon addicts • All Canon Photography • Canon you can-Users Group • We love Canon Cameras • Digital Camera World • Just Dorset • Dorset Photography group • The Passion of Photography • Dorset Photography • in explore • All Photographers & Photographs welcome! • Canon Users DSLR • Flicker Every Click • Dorset Photographs • This is Why I Bought A Camera • Canon EOS 5DS and 5DSR Owners Photographs • THE IMAGINATIVE CAMERA • places of the world • Canon EOS 5Ds / 5DsR Digital SLR • Any United Kingdom Pictures • CANON 5DsR PRO • Photography Showcase • * no limits, just quality photography! • WONDERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN GENERAL.MARAVILLAS DE LA FOTOGRAFIA EN « less

Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R, f/13.0, 1/200 sec, 16mm, ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 5DS R
Lens:	EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM
Aperture:	f/13.0
Exposure Time:	0.005 sec (1/200)
Focal Length:	16mm
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 12.0 Windows
Show full info

Stats: 7,265 views / 22 comments

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: