Daffodil Cinema

18-20 Suffolk Parade,
Cheltenham, GL50 2AE

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Additional Info

Styles: Art Deco, Neo-Vintage

Previous Names: Daffodil Picture House

Nearby Theaters

The Daffodil

The unusually named Daffodil Picture House is located a short distance from the town centre in the Montpellier district. It opened on 5th October 1922 with Mary Carr in "Thunderclap". Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels. The proscenium was 41ft wide. It was later equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system.

By 1954 it had been renamed Daffodil Cinema and was equipped with a RCA sound system. The Daffodil Cinema was closed on 7th September 1963 with Gregory Peck in "Cape Fear". It was converted into a bingo club, and this use lasted until May 1977. The building then became an antique and furniture showroom until 1989.

The building stood empty and unused for many years, still retaining its cinema seats and projection equipment. It was beautifully refurbished and re-opened as an up-market restaurant on 14th February 1998. Examples of original cinema seats and the old projectors were put on public display in the restaurant.

Sadly, the Daffodil Restaurant was closed suddenly at the beginning of February 2016 when the business went into receivership. It reopened later in 2016 and survived the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. It underwent a refurbishment and reopened in February 2022 but closed again in August 2022 stating staff shortages as a reason. In December 2023 a new tenant was being sought to occupy the building.

Contributed by Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on April 12, 2011 at 5:17 pm

These pages, from the restaurant’s website, have pictures of the former theater in its past and current use:View link and View link.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on April 14, 2011 at 9:36 pm

The Daffodil, photographed in November 2010:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ysl807/5238981619/
At night in March 2009:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anachic/3380683246/
Tile floor in foyer:
View link
Auditorium:
View link

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