Pleasure Beach Novelty Cinema

Promenade and Balmoral Road,
Blackpool, FY4 1EZ

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Additional Info

Architects: R.B. Mather

Styles: Oriental

Previous Names: Casino Picture Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Pleasure Beach Novelty Cinema

Located on the Promenade, South Shore at the entrance to the Pleasure Beach Amusement Park. The Casino Picture Theatre opened in 1913 in the Casino Building which was in the style of a Rahja’s Palace in India, which complemented the architecture of the nearby 1893-built South Pier. It was designed by local Blackpool architect R.B. Mather and contained an Oriental tea-room, a restaurant, grill room, billiard room and shop. The Casino Picture Theatre had seating for 700. In 1931 it was re-named Pleasure Beach Novelty Cinema, presenting newsreels and short subjects. It was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system. It was closed in 1938 and demolished.

In 1939 the Casino Building was rebuilt in a stunning Art Deco/Streamline Moderne style to the plans of architect Joseph Emberton, with local architect Halstead Best as associate architect. Externally, its most striking feature is a 92ft tall Art Deco style tower with an external spiral staircase which led to a viewing platform. The Casino was opened on 26th May 1939 and contained a grill room, American style soda bar, a banquet hall accomodating 700 diners and a luxurious restaurant known as the Savarin Restaurant.

The building went into other uses, and today serves as a ticket booking office for the Pleasure Beach and a restaurant. It was renovated in 2007.

Contributed by Ken Roe
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