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Gaumont Chichester Eastgate Square, Chichester

Photo - Streetscape atmos

• Opened on September 20, 1937, as the largest of Chichester’s early purpose-built cinemas, drawing huge crowds and hundreds turning away at its gala opening.

• Designed by architect Harry Weston in an Art Deco red-brick and stone style featuring a distinctive circular frontage.

The stadium-style interior held 1,278 seats (874 in the front, 404 in the rear) and featured a unique underwater-themed decoration with blue, silver, and gold paintings of bubbles, sea plants, and canvas artwork by Henri Hague, alongside a first-floor restaurant.

• Closed on December 15, 1951.

• Reopened under a private lease in 1953.

• Taken over and permanently closed on October 15, 1960 by the Rank Organisation.

• Converted into a municipal swimming pool on December 20, 1961.

• The building was eventually demolished starting in December 2007.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -