I remember watching the 1987 film The Running Man with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead part in this cinema. It was in Screen 2, in the former circle foyer area I think it was, seating around 40-50.
If this building was transported to a ‘hip’ location in London, they’d be clambering to have it re-opened for films or as a cultural centre. Alas, Lincolnshire is a cultural backwater I fear….
Initially converted into an Alpha Bingo Club before Mecca took over. Mike Blakemore’s image shows BINGO on the canopy, still with the neon ABC triangle on the building.
Apparently rioters targeted the furniture emporium, as those on benefits received grants in the form of vouchers to be spent at this store only. The prices for the second-hand furniture was very high for what it was, so the vouchers bought less than was perhaps anticipated, hence being targeted….
Cover photo clearly how’s the van advertising the Alpha Bingo Club here, later operating as a Gala Club, and now the independent Ritz Bingo Club. Mecca have never operated this venue.
The gallery photo shows the bingo operating as EMI Bingo, this seams to follow a pattern, as other sites initially have Star Bingo which later changed to EMI Bingo, another example being the Savoy/ABC Exeter.
Harry Rigby’s postcard shows this venue operating on cine-bingo, the board on the left saying films start at 6.30pm, with cash bingo underneath, the days/times unreadable though.
This is a sad picture that I posted, not just because it’s the demolition of a cinema, but also, if you look top right corner of the remaining roofline, the grey shaded figure is of a demolition worker falling off the roof.
Street number was 18 by the look of the photograph.
Although the Empire name was kept on the facade, in the final years the bingo operator was Top Ten Bingo.
I remember watching the 1987 film The Running Man with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead part in this cinema. It was in Screen 2, in the former circle foyer area I think it was, seating around 40-50.
If this building was transported to a ‘hip’ location in London, they’d be clambering to have it re-opened for films or as a cultural centre. Alas, Lincolnshire is a cultural backwater I fear….
The bingo club operated under the name of Burnage Bingo.
The photo belongs to Philip Mayer.
Initial conversion to bingo was as part of the Wild Bingo group, then passing to Stratton and finally Cascade Bingo before conversion to the eatery.
Mecca disposed of several bingo clubs to Jasmine Bingo, this was one of them, and they were the final bingo operators here.
Last operated by Beacon Bingo, they were the ones who floodlit the frontage at night, in a lovely purple i seam to remember.
Robboehm- it was called Studio 5-6-7-8 as Star operated Studio 1-2-3-4 on Oxford Street at the same time as here.
Initially converted into an Alpha Bingo Club before Mecca took over. Mike Blakemore’s image shows BINGO on the canopy, still with the neon ABC triangle on the building.
Apparently rioters targeted the furniture emporium, as those on benefits received grants in the form of vouchers to be spent at this store only. The prices for the second-hand furniture was very high for what it was, so the vouchers bought less than was perhaps anticipated, hence being targeted….
Address should be 1179…
Cover photo clearly how’s the van advertising the Alpha Bingo Club here, later operating as a Gala Club, and now the independent Ritz Bingo Club. Mecca have never operated this venue.
The gallery photo shows the bingo operating as EMI Bingo, this seams to follow a pattern, as other sites initially have Star Bingo which later changed to EMI Bingo, another example being the Savoy/ABC Exeter.
Harry Rigby’s postcard shows this venue operating on cine-bingo, the board on the left saying films start at 6.30pm, with cash bingo underneath, the days/times unreadable though.
Ian’s link on bingo in 1986 shows it as a Granada Bingo Club..
Bright & Beautiful… the B.B. Cinemas operated in the town hall I believe.
Upon closure as a cinema, it re-opened as the Lyric Bingo & Social Club.
The bingo operation decided on using the older name of Electra for the bingo club.
According to the Chester Cinemas website entry for this cinema, upon closure, the Grand tried bingo unsuccessfully.
Wasn’t it a lovely auditorium!
On bingo nights, Classic operated this venue under it’s Vogue Bingo & Social Club name.
This is a sad picture that I posted, not just because it’s the demolition of a cinema, but also, if you look top right corner of the remaining roofline, the grey shaded figure is of a demolition worker falling off the roof.
The Regent became an EMI Bingo Club initially, so would have been taken over by ABV when they bought the Shipman & King Circuit.