Theatres and Halls in Kingston Upon Thames, London

The Rose Theatre - The Kingston Empire Theatre - The Royal County Theatre - The Regal Theatre / Central Palace Theatre - Granada Cinema / Oceana / Prizm Nightclub

See also in this area: Richmond Theatres

The Rose Theatre, 24-26 High Street, Kingston upon Thames

Above - The Rose Theatre, Kingston in August 2009 - Photo M.L.

The Rose Theatre, Kingston was the first theatre to be built in the UK in the 21st Century. Work began on the shell of the building in 2003, which also included residential and commercial properties.

The Theatre itself was fitted out by the architects Blundell, Thompson and Hargreaves in 2004 and even before it was finished Sir Peter Hall, who had become the Director of the Theatre the previous year, staged several plays in its unfinished auditorium under the banner of the ‘In the Raw' season.

The Rose Theatre's Horse Shoe shaped auditorium drew its inspiration from the Elizabethan Theatre of the same name in London's Bankside which was home to many of Shakespeare and Marlowe's early plays. (There are plans to excavate the original Rose Theatre site on Bankside and more information about this can be found here.)

Right - The Rose Theatre, Kingston in August 2009 - Photo M.L.

Kingston's Rose Theatre was completed in late 2007 and opened on the 16th of January 2008 with an English Touring Theatre Production of 'Uncle Vanya' directed by Peter Hall.

Apart from the main Theatre there is also a complex of other theatre spaces in the building.

You may like to visit The Rose Theatre's own Website here.

If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.

The Royal County Theatre, Fife Road, Kingston Upon Thames

Formerly - The Albany Assembly Rooms / Hall - Later - The New Revue Theatre / Super Cinema / The County Theatre

Above - The Royal County Theatre, Kingston at the turn of the century - From a postcard

The Royal County Theatre opened on the 4th of October 1897 and was a conversion from the former Albany Assembly Rooms which had been vacated for some time. The Albany was bought by Peter Davey who was a writer of plays and pantomimes, and a member of the local Amateur Dramatic Club. Davey managed to raise enough money, £18,000, to have the Albany Hall converted into a Theatre. The Architect was J.C. Bourne, who was also associated with the planning of the Empire, Kingston, and the conversion took 9 months to achieve. When it was finished the new Royal County Theatre had an auditorium on three levels, Stalls, Circle, and Gallery with a capacity of 1,300.

Right - A Programme for the Royal County Theatre, Kingston for the week of September 7th 1903.

The Theatre was equipped with a working stage of 60 foot wide, with a proscenium opening of 24 foot wide by 22 foot high, which was big enough for all the productions it might encounter in that period. The Theatre also had an orchestra pit, 8 dressing rooms, and a green room, and became home to all manor of productions including plays, opera, and even variety shows, but it was more famous for its pantomimes, written by Peter Davey, which were so good that they would often be presented in other Theatres too. Noel Coward was taken to the Royal County Theatre as a child to see his very first Pantomime; "Aladdin" in 1903. Programmes and the scripts from some of these Pantomimes can be seen in the Templeman Library in the University of Kent.

Above - A Postcard view of the Royal County Theatre and Fife Road, Kingston circa 1910 - Courtesy Roger Fox.

By 1905 the Theatre was part of a Circuit of 20 other Theatres around London but by November 1912 its live theatre days had ceased and it was in use as a Cinema. In 1915 it was renamed the New Revue Theatre and was in use as a live Theatre again but this didn't last long and it was back in use as a Cinema again six months later, and by November 1917 it was reopened as the Super Cinema.

Right - An illustrated Programme Cover for the Royal County Theatre, Kingston on Thames in 1911 - Courtesy Roy Cross.

In 1939, under the control of H & R Properties, the building was modernised and refurbished and renamed the County Theatre. Sadly on the 9th of February the next year, 1940, the Theatre was destroyed by fire, gutting the interior and leaving only the exterior standing.

The building then remained unused until 1955 when it was converted into a showroom for the Times Furnishing Company. This firm hired furniture to Theatre Production companies for dressing their stage sets, so there was still a slight connection with the theatre world. In recent years though the building had been used as a Sports Direct Store and its original use had been all but extinguished from view, although it was still possible to see part of its original name on what remained of the fly tower. (See the two photographs below).

In October 2020 the local Council approved plans to demolish the former Theatre and its neighbouring building in order to construct a 200 room Residential housing building.

Some of the above information is Courtesy Alan Chudley.

Above - The remaining structure of the 1897 Royal County Theatre, Kingston in September 2009 when it was being used as a Sports Store called Sports World - Courtesy Roger Fox.

Above - Details from a Programme for the Royal County Theatre, Kingston for the week of September 7th 1903, with the Annual visit of Mr. Mouilot's Company in the Japanese Musical Play 'The Geisha' A Tale of the Tea House. And on the Friday of the same week, A Story of Ancient Rome; 'A Greek Slave' with full chorus and augmented orchestra.

Above - The remains of the fly tower of the 1897 Royal County Theatre, Kingston in September 2009. It is just possible to read part of the name of the Theatre picked out on the Stage Right Wall - Courtesy Roger Fox.

If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.

The Empire Theatre, Clarence Street, Formerly Richmond Road, Kingston Upon Thames

Later - The Kings Tun Public House

Above - Bertie Crewe's Kingston Empire in 1910 - From the ERA, 1st October 1910.

The Empire Theatre, Kingston was designed by the well known Theatre Architect Bertie Crewe for Clarence Sounes, and opened on the 24th of October 1910. The ERA reported on the almost completed Theatre in their October the 1st 1910 edition, along with the image shown above, saying:- 'This new and handsome addition to the architectural features of Kingston is rapidly approaching completion, and we are able, by the courtesy of Mr. Clarence Sounes, the proprietor, and Mr. Bertie Crewe, the architect, of 75, 77, Shaftesbury Avenue, W., who has designed over fifty of the most successful theatres and hippodromes in London and the provinces, to give a full description of the new house, which is situated in the Richmond-road, one minute's walk from the Kingston railway station.

Right - A Variety Poster for the Kingston Empire from August 1940 - Courtesy Roger Fox.

The site, needless to remark, is a most admirable one, being in the centre of the town, with frontages to the main road, and rights of way at both ends, having a splendid electric train service which passes the theatre to Wimbledon, Tooting, Merton, Hampton Wick, Hampton Court, Molesey, Twickenham, Richmond, Teddington, and Surbiton.

The main elevation is very handsome and strictly architectural, carved out in Modern English Renaissance style and constructed in terracotta (to imitate Portland stone) and medium red bricks.

Above - An early Postcard showing the Kingston Empire - Courtesy Roger Fox who says 'The Theatre opened in 1910 and the trams arrived in Kingston in 1906. The site opposite, Canbury Lodge and its garden, partly later became the Bus depot, and the right hand part in 1939 the Granada. An early cinema opened on a site hidden by the trees on the right hand side in 1910 but we cannot see it. The first trams were in the series 300 but this one looks to be in the 200 series.

This will be further improved by the erection of an ornamental wrought Iron and glass verandah stretching out over the payment, the glass to this and to all the windows having been carried out in coloured "Deconverre" leaded work, and the effect when lighted up at night, and with numerous arc lamps on the front, will be most attractive.

Right - The Auditorium of the Kingston Empire - From a Programme from October 1945 - Courtesy Philip Paine.

A special feature to the elevation will be the turret at the south-east corner of the main elevation, from which will be suspended a brilliant electric arc lamp, about 66ft. from the ground, a feature which will be seen from all parts of the town.

The main entrance is from Richmond-road into the entrance-hall, this being a high apartment with the walls finished to imitate stone, and lined to imitate Ashlar, and a white panelled ceiling.

In the centre opposite the entrance is the Box Office, and on the right-hand side there are staircases leading to the stalls and circle respectively. The stalls are approached from the main entrance, down a few steps and entered at the side. There are ten rows in all, all tip up chairs, with wide gangways, and plenty of "knee-room," the floor being covered with thick pile carpet.

A few steps up from the entrance hall leads to the circle, where there are twelve rows, and seated and carpeted similar to the stalls. A great feature in the circle is the spacious promenade, 61ft long, with a floor slightly sloping, and from which the whole of the stage can be seen.

Left - A Painting by George Richmond depicting the Auditorium of Bertie Crewe's Kingston Empire of 1910. George has used the white gold and bronze colour scheme reported in the contemporary article transcribed on this page, and used a 1931 photo as the basis for the painting but also referencing the original 1910 artists impression for some elements - Click for an Index to all of George Richmond's Paintings on this site.

A few steps from the promenade there is a spacious lounge each side of the Biograph box, special provision having been made for separate saloons for the stalls and circle patrons. Also a special feature has been made of a ladies' tea room; this is quite out of the ordinary, and will be a great convenience, especially at matinees. This room, along with the stalls and circle saloons, will be made as comfortable as possible, and are the finest and cosiest in any theatre, with pile carpets and settees, &c. Retiring and cloak rooms have been provided for ladies and gentlemen in the most convenient places for an all of the house.

In the centre of the circle promenade is a fire proof Biograph chamber, so constructed that it forms part of the scheme of decoration. The boxes, of which there are four, are approached from the circle. The pit entrance is also from Richmond-road, with a few steps down. To prevent crushing in the entrance the people will be guided slowly past the pay-box; the same system will also be used in the gallery entrance. There are nearly 600 seats in the pit in seventeen rows, all comfortably upholstered, with wide passages and gangways.

Above - The rear and side elevation of what remained of the Kingston Empire in 2011 - Courtesy Roger Fox.

The gallery is entered from the right of way at the side nearest Kingston Station, and will seat about 607 people in twelve rows, while spacious saloons have been provided for both pit and gallery, also cloak rooms and ample lavatory accommodation for both sexes.

Right - The Auditorium of the Kingston Empire when it first opened - From the ERA, 8th of October 1910.

The "sight-lines" from all parts of the house are perfect, in spite of the great width of the auditorium; there is not a single column to obstruct the view. The circle and gallery have been constructed on the most approved suspensory principle, the huge girders under the circle and gallery being hidden from view and the ends carried on blue brick piers built in neat cement and flush with the walls. The auditorium is 73ft. deep by 60ft. wide.

The decoration in the auditorium has been carried out in Grecian Renaissance, so admirably adapted for theatres, and finished in white, with the enrichments finished off to imitate gold bronze. The tableaux curtains and all draperies are in shades of maze blue and rich old gold, also the armchairs, seats, and carpets. These, together with all the interior fittings, electric lifts, barriers, doors, and even door furniture, have been specially designed to harmonise with the scheme of decoration.

The lighting is by electricity, with a second and third service in case of failure. The heating is on the low pressure hot water system, on the most elaborate lines, numerous radiators have been placed in the best positions in the auditorium, and the stage has a continuous coil of pipes round each wall, so draughts will be impossible. Special attention has been paid to the most important question of ventilation, and this has been done by means of huge electric fans in the roof and air ducts. These are powerful enough to entirely change the air in the theatre six times an hour.

Above - A Google StreetView Image of the former Kingston Empire in July 2016 - Click to Interact.

There are two exits to each part of the house, the pit having three, all of which are in the most advantageous positions, and the theatre when crowded can, with ease, be cleared in two minutes. These exit are indicated by lights always burning, so that when the house is in darkness they will show up, and in the rare event of panic the people would walk straight to them.

Right - A Google StreetView Image of the former Kingston Empire in June 2021 - Click to Interact.

The question of contending with an outbreak of fire - an almost impossible thing - has been thoroughly dealt with. The stage can be entirely cut off from the auditorium in a few seconds by a steel framed and double covered asbestos curtain, and would have a constant flood of water over it. This can be operated both from the stage or from just inside the stage door. In addition to this there are two hydrants on the stage and two In the flies, each with water-buckets, and also two hydrants in the pit, circle, and gallery, ten in all.

The stage roof is constructed with a large skylight, the sides of which automatically open in case of fire, and draw the flames and smoke through the stage roof away from the auditorium. All the openings between the stage and the dressing rooms and auditorium have been fitted with self-closing iron doors.

Above - A framed collection of programmes and photos for a production of 'Mr. Gulliver Comes to Town' at the Kingston Empire in September 1952 - Courtesy Hildegard Schindler.

Apart from this, the theatre has been constructed, wherever possible, of fireproof materials. The circle and gallery are in steel and concrete, only the steppings being made of wood, and all the exit staircases are of brick and concrete.

The dressing rooms are in an entirely separate block, and are entered off the right of way at side. They are all light and airy, with hot-water heating and with hot and cold lavatories. Down below in the basement are the boiler-house and electricians' rooms, entirely cut off from the rest of the building.

The stage is of ample dimensions to take anything that is ever likely to be required, with a height to the grid of 49ft. and a width of 78ft.

The seating capacity altogether is for nearly 2,000 people, each one of whom will get an absolutely uninterrupted view of the stage. The opening is fixed for Oct. 24, for which a strong variety company has been engaged. Performances will be given twice nightly, also frequent flying matinees by London stars, for which many important engagements have been made. We wish Mr. Sounes every success in his new venture.'

The above text in quotes was first published in the ERA, 1st October 1910.

The stage carpenter and resident stage manager at the Kingston Empire from its opening in 1910 was Percy G. Court (shown right) who worked there for 30 years until 1940.

Right - Percy G. Court, the Stage manager at the Kingston Empire from its opening in 1910.

After Percy retired he wrote down his memories of his long career in the theatre from the late 1800s in an article entitled 'Memories Of Show-Business' and this fascinating contemporary account is available to read on the site here.

Above - The side elevation of what remained of the Kingston Empire in August 2011. Note the Empire sign being cleaned on the side of the Theatre's Facade - Photo Courtesy Roger Fox.

A serious fire occurred at the Kingston Empire in its Music Hall days only a few years after it was built. The fire occurred in April 1914 destroying the stage, and damaging the auditorium. But the Theatre was quickly rebuilt and redecorated, and reopened on Monday the 20th of July 1914.

Right - The Kingston Empire in 1939 from a programme - Courtesy Alan Chudley

The Theatre was altered in 1930 when it was bought by Kingshot Theatres and the pit and stalls were merged. It was also, at this time, only the second Theatre in the country to install neon lighting to its exterior.

The Empire was another casualty of the coming of Television in the 1950s. When an auction failed to find a buyer for the Theatre it was bought by a property company in 1956, gutted and turned into a supermarket and offices.

Left - A Review of the Last Show 'La Vie Parisienne' at the Kingston Empire in March 1956 - From the Stage Newspaper, March 24th 1956.

The exterior of the building is however still partly recognisable as a lost theatre today and although today it is being used as a pub called 'Kings Tun' it still has the word Empire painted on tiling on the side of the building.

In 2010 the building was purchased by London Church International, who planed to change its name to KingsGate and reopen the building in September with the intention of running it as a multi-purpose hall for church and conference use, church offices, and a soft play area and coffee shop.

In 2011 the exterior of the building was cleaned and the original Empire sign revealed for all to see clearly. On the ground floor and half the first floor of the former Theatre a Weatherspoon pub called the 'King's Tun' is now in occupation and the church is on the second floor, an unlikely mix of bed fellows but it appears to be working.

If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.

Working at the Kingston Empire by Alan Chudley

Above - The side elevation of what remained of the Kingston Empire in 2010. Note the Empire sign still slightly visible although painted over, and the 1910 date on the side of the Theatre's Facade - Photo Courtesy Roger Fox.

'After a false start, in 1907 the Empire was designed by Bertie Crewe for Clarence Sounes, and was built on the site of a Doctor's house and orchard. It later came into the hands of Jack Gladwin of the Theatre Royal Norwich and in 1930 was sold with the Aldershot Hippodrome to Stanley Watson to become Kingshot Theatres Ltd.

Right - The Kingston Empire Auditorium after the 1930s alteration - From a programme - Courtesy Alan Chudley.

The Empire, always a twice nightly house, was the sister theatre of the Hippodrome Aldershot where in the 1940s I was employed as assistant Electrician. Sometimes when the Empire had a mid-week matinee and the usual stage crew, having day time jobs would not be available, I would be asked to work the Limes on the front of the upper circle, for that matinee at the Empire. I had to take a train from Aldershot to Surbition, and then catch a trolley bus, known locally as a 'Diddler' to Kingston. And it was quite a task to get back to Aldershot in time for the evening performances there.

The Empire was about twice the size of the Hippodrome and the pay for the matinee three times as great, at seven shillings and sixpence, plus train and 'diddler' fares. The Stage manager at the Empire was the highly respected Percy Court, the musical Director was Olly Aston who was replaced at the end of 1943 by Jack Frere, who had conducted the last two Royal Variety Performances prior to world war two.

Left - A Programme for 'Wild Oats' at the Empire Theatre, Kingston, run at this time by Kingshot Theatres Ltd. - July 24th 1939.

The Empire circa 1950 became one of the few theatres to install an Atlas Fluorescent Stage Lighting System, a grant when the supply changed from DC to AC helped to pay for this.

The success of the Empire put paid to the Royal County Theatre Kingston, which was just around the corner from the Empire in Fife Road as a live Theatre.'

The above text in quotes was kindly written for this site by Alan Chudley.

A visitor to the site, Angela Goldsborough, has sent in some information regarding her father, Henry Dean, who was manager at the Kingston Empire for over 30 years. Angela says: 'My Dad Henry Richard Dean was the manager of Kingston Empire for over thirty years. He passed away on the 18th December 1948, but as I was not born until 1931 I can only assume that he became Manager about 1918. I know some of his duties were having all the days takings from the Box Office, the several bars in the theatre and possibly any other places where money was collected. This had to be checked and put in the safe until the next morning when it was taken to the bank. He used to leave home at 6.30 each morning and did not leave the theatre until after the interval of the second house in the evening. He was also responsible for booking the acts that were to perform in the following weeks. Such stars as Tommy Trinder, Billy Cotton and his Orchestra, Vera Lynne, and Hutch. These are but a few. I can remember my very first visit to the Empire with my Mother. We met my Dad at the stage door and he took us onto the stage where we were met by two little lion cubs! The circus which was performing that week had lions and Lena the mother had had cubs and I was allowed to play with them for a short while. I was often taken back-stage to meet entertainers who were good friends of my Dad. He did actually give Frankie Vaughan his first week's work after he had spotted him in a talent show that was taking place at the theatre.' Courtesy - Angela Goldsborough.

The Regal Theatre, 22-30, Richmond Road, Kingston Upon Thames

Formerly - The Central Palace Theatre - Later - ABC / Coral Bingo / Gala Bingo and Dance Studio

Above - The Exterior and Main Entrance for the Regal Cinema, Kingston when it first opened in 1932 - From The Architects' Journal, 30th of March 1932.

The Regal Theatre which still stands on the Richmond Road in Kingston today was built in 1932 and replaced the earlier Central Palace Theatre, which was situated next to the Central Hall Rink and had opened on the 4th of December 1909. The auditorium of the Central Palace was in the style of the Music Halls of the day and was fitted with one balcony.

Right - The former Central Palace Theatre, Kingston which was replaced by the Regal Theatre in 1932 - From the Kinematograph Weekly, 18th of February 1932.

Despite its music hall pretensions however, it wasn't long before it was being used as a Cinema only and showing silent films instead. The Theatre was never converted for sound and although successful was demolished in 1931 so that a new Cinema, called the Regal, could be built on its site.

The Regal Theatre was built by James Watt, who had also built the former Central Palace Theatre, and was designed by the well known Theatre Architect Robert Cromie with an auditorium in the Art Deco style and a capacity of over 2,400. The Theatre was built for the County Cinemas Circuit primarily as a Cinema but it did have full stage facilities for live shows, along with an orchestra pit and dressing rooms.

Left - The Entrance Hall of the Regal Theatre when it first opened in 1932 - From The Architects' Journal, 30th of March 1932.

There was also a Tea Room on the first floor above the Entrance Hall 70 feet long by 46 feet wide with a Dance Floor and its own small stage, this room was sometimes used as a Ballroom.

The Regal Theatre opened on 15th February 1932 with the films 'Splinters of the Navy', 'Keepers of Youth', and the Laurel & Hardy film 'Our Wives'. Alongside were speeches by the Mayor and Elizabeth Allen, and Reginald Foort playing the Theatre's Wurlitzer Organ with a piece inspired by a tour around the British Isles.

The Architects' Journal reported on the new Regal Theatre in their 30th of March 1932 edition, along with some of the images shown here, saying:- 'It is proper that fortune should bestow one of the most modern super-cinemas upon Kingston-upon-Thames, if only to keep awake the memory of Edward Muybridge, who was born there just over a hundred years ago.

Right - The Entrance Hall of the Regal Theatre from the Balcony Staircase when the Theatre first opened in 1932 - From The Architects' Journal, 30th of March 1932.

Muybridge was a mechanical genius with a penchant for photography. He invented the "zoopraxiscope " in 1881 - a photographic camera designed for the specific purpose of reproducing the actions of animals in motion.

Above - The Auditorium of the Regal Theatre when it first opened in 1932 - From The Architects' Journal, 30th of March 1932. The Caption for these images reads: Left - In the auditorium the front tabs of the proscenium are in graduated shades of copper to light gold silk, the screen curtains, silver grey, and the borders and wings, deep jade green. Right - Looking from the balcony towards one of the side walls. Pale green, dull gold and lacquered silver tones are employed in conjunction with black, and with varied lighting effects.

It was in 1890 that Eastman produced the first machine for making rollable transparent films. Eastman was approached by Edison, and for five years both men experimented on their connected problems. In that time Edison perfected the first film projector, and Eastman produced a celluloid film which would pass light through itself, solving both his own problem of popular photography and Edison's problem of the moving picture.

The new theatre stands on the site of the "Central" Palace, Kingston's first "picture house," which was built in 1909. It is completely steel-framed and consists, in addition to the theatre proper, of a four-storied building, containing boiler house, three floors of dressing-rooms and accommodation for the ventilating and heating plant.

Above - Robert Cromie's Plan of the Auditorium of the Regal Theatre, Kingston in 1932 - From The Architects' Journal, 30th of March 1932. The Caption for this image says that you should compare this plan with the Auditorium Images shown above. The Stalls floor is 160ft, long by 144ft. wide; the Balcony 75ft. deep by 144ft. wide.

Above - An advertisement from the Bioscope of April 1932 featuring the Wurlitzer Organ at the Regal, Kingston.

Above the main entrance hall is a tea room, adjacent to which are commodious kitchens, staff rooms and stores. Above a portion of the tea room are public toilets and offices, and immediately above these the generator chamber and further public toilets. One story higher the projection chamber, with secondary lighting, battery, re-wind, non-synchronous and repair rooms, together with the electricians' store, are arranged.

Above - Robert Cromie's Stalls Plan for the Regal Theatre, Kingston - From The Architects' Journal, 30th of March 1932. The Caption for this image reads: Plan of the stalls floor. The Theatre has a balcony above and provides total accommodation for 3,000 persons. There is a full size stage, with dressing rooms, and all the accessories, mechanical and electrical, for the production of plays and vaudeville.

The planning, with the main entrance on the Upper Richmond Road façade and the balcony and tea room exists on the Canbury Park Road elevation, has resulted in a particularly convenient arrangement of the public and domestic accommodation over the entrance hall. A new departure for the cinema stage was made by the installation of a cutout painted cloth, an original design of leaves in blue, green and silver, together with a blue distance cloth.'

The above text in quotes was first published in The Architects' Journal, 30th of March 1932.

Above - A Google StreetView Image of the Regal Cinema, Kingston in July 2015 - Click to Interact.

The Regal Theatre had first opened on the 15th of February 1932 and although primarily built as a Cinema it also played host to regular stage shows and there were many radio broadcasts of its Wurlitzer organ which, since being removed in 1972, has been one of the main attractions of the Musical Museum in Brentford.

Right - A Sketch of the Main Entrance Facade of the Regal Theatre, Kingston in 1932 - From The Bioscope, 3rd of February 1932.

In August 1961 the Cinema was renamed ABC, a name it retained until its eventual closure as a Cinema on July the 17th 1976 with a final showing of the films 'Blondie' and 'Adventures of a Taxi Driver.'

The building was then converted for Bingo use by Coral, and would later be operated by Gala Bingo in 1991.

The Regal Theatre is rare example of one of Robert Cromie's surviving Cinema Theatres and is today a Grade II Listed Building.

However, From 2016 to 2022 the former Regal Theatre was shrouded in scaffolding as it was being converted into a mixed use building.

The exterior and interior of the building was planned to be restored and when it reopened it was proposed that the Theatre would, according to CNM Estates who were responsible for the changes, include a conference centre, restaurant, dance studio, children's activity area, and an additional new building would contain office and small business incubator space, serviced apartments for short term rentals, and luxury residences.

Left - The Auditorium and Stage of the Regal Cinema, Kingston in December 2013 - Courtesy Mo Malik who has many more images of the building on his Flickr page here.

However, a serious fire in 2025 has put pay to these plans for the time being, the overseas owners are reported as saying that they are looking into the cost of submitting another planning application for the 'derelict site'.

Apparently work on the building had been suspended before the fire anyway whilst the property development company Jericho Estates were looking at options for the site's redevelopment.

Right - The former Tea Rooms of the Regal Cinema, Kingston, which was home to the Kingston Dance Studio - Courtesy Mo Malik who has many more images of the Tea Rooms here.

This is all very worrying for the future of this Grade II Listed Building and former Cinema Theatre which was totally restorable before the work on it began, and the recent fire has made its future even more uncertain.

There are many images of the building during its Bingo years, inside and out, here.

Above - A Google StreetView Image of the Regal Cinema, Kingston in July 2025 - Click to Interact.

If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.

The Granada Cinema, Clarence Street, Formerly Richmond Road, Kingston

Later - Oceana Nightclub / Pryzm Nightclub

Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the former Granada Cinema, Kingston, now the Pryzm Nightclub, to the right, the former Kingston Empire to the left, and the Odeon Multiplex Cinemas at centre, in October 2022 - Click to Interact.

The Granada Cinema was situated on Clarence Street, formerly Richmond Road, in Kingston, virtually opposite the Kingston Empire Theatre, and next door to a site which would later become the Odeon Cinema multiplex which opened in 2002. The Granada Cinema was opened on the 3rd of November 1939 with a showing of the films 'The Modern Miracle' and 'Home From Home'. In attendance for the opening and officiating the occasion were the film stars Jesse Mathews and Sonnie Hale who lived locally.

The Theatre was originally planned to be called the State Theatre and operated by the Hyams Brothers but when it was only half completed it was taken over by Granada Theatres who altered the plans slightly so that there would be no restaurant above the foyer, and the proscenium would be square rather than curved as originally designed by George Coles. The rest of George Coles plans were carried out in the completed Theatre however, assisted by Cecil Masey who was the acting consultant architect. The interior of the Theatre was designed by Granada's own designer Theodore Komisarjevsky.

Above - The Auditorium of the Granada, Kingston with its Wurlitzer Organ being played by Armsbee Bancroft for a Sunday Concert on the 9th of March 1975 - Courtesy Ian Mciver, who was involved with the restoration of the Organ during the period between 1968 and 1974.

The Granada was built primarily as a Cinema but did have a fully equipped stage and dressing rooms for its artists. And there was also a Wurlitzer Theatre Organ installed for its opening, played by Reginald Dixon. The Organ was originally installed in the Edinburgh Picture House.

Right - A Notice from the Kinematograph Weekly of Thursday the 23rd of November 1939 on the Wurlitzer Organ Installation at the Kingston Granada.

The Kinematograph Weekly Supplement reported on the new Kingston Granada in their 9th of November 1939 edition saying:- 'In the Royal Borough of Kingston-on-Thames an addition has been made to the already attractive amusement centre by the erection of the new Granada Cinema by Bernstein Theatres, Ltd. It is situated in the Richmond Road near its junction with London Road, and has been designed by George Coles, F.R.I.B.A. E. W. Cook, M.I.Struct.E., was the consulting structural engineer. The planning of this magnificent building, seating 2,000 persons, has called for much ingenuity, and the proportion and spaciousness of the theatre are a testimony to the architect's skill as well as an amenity which is bound to be keenly appreciated by the public.

The Main Entrance Block

The main entrance block to the kinema is at the London Road end of the facade and is flanked by four shops to which it gives a dominating quality. Three large semicircular windows immediately above the canopy mark the centre of the vestibule and the extreme right of the entrance block is carried up to form a tower having a central fin bearing the name of the kinema. The front is executed in rustic bricks with terra cotta dressings, this latter material being used also to face the entrance block up to the level of the Swanser canopy, which is returned along the side elevation to a considerable depth to form a shelter for those queueing.

Lofty Vestibule

Through a double range of entrance doors, arranged to form a "black-out" lobby, entrance is gained to a lofty and highly decorative vestibule treated in the Renaissance style. The ceiling is coffered with highly modelled and moulded panels carried out in shades of pink and green with enrichments picked out in gold on a blue background. The side walls have a triple-arched mirror treatment coloured similar to the ceiling. The floor is in terrazzo, having a field of a light buff colour with bands of red and green. A double staircase rises at the further end of the vestibule to a balcony across the full width of the vestibule; the staircase balustrade being in highly decorated ornamental ironwork. Immediately at the foot of the double staircase are two payboxess having walnut bases with ornamental wrought-iron grilles.

Above - A Google StreetView Image of the Foyer of the former Kingston Granada in use as the Pryzm Nightclub in January 2014 - Click to Interact.

From the vestibule glazed mahogany doors lead into the stalls foyer, a large apartment decorated with green textured walls surmounted by a deep cornice and frieze in the same colour, the modelling of the ornament being picked out in gold. The ceiling is a pale shade of rose-pink. The double staircase from the vestibule leads through a foyer into the balcony. The foyer is treated as a hall of mirrors, having a sunshine yellow ceiling with highly decorated wall pilasters between the mirrors, with gold ornament on a blue background, the plain surfaces of the walls being finished in a buff colour lined out as imitation stonework.

Auditorium Decorations

The auditorium has a highly decorated and moulded ceiling with a large enriched and panelled central dome over the front portion picked out in gold on a green background with pink and buff stippled marginal bands, the general ceiling panels being buff scumbled with cream, the surrounding margins in pink scumbled with buff. The ceiling over the balcony is raised and coffered with gold pateral on a blue background with green margins. The ante-proscenium has a double pilaster treatment for the full height of the auditorium carrying a fully moulded and modelled cornice which is carried across the proscenium opening; the pilasters enclose a triple arched treatment, the arched openings being filled with ornamental gold grilles. The general colour treatment is picked out in shades of blue, green and pink to harmonise with the ceiling. The frieze of the cornice is further decorated by a fresco of dancing nymphs. Decorations were carried out by Campbell Bros., and plasterwork by Maple and Co., Ltd.

Above - A Google StreetView Image of the auditorium of the former Kingston Granada in use as the Pryzm Nightclub in January 2014 - Click to Interact.

Lighting of the auditorium is effected by pendant fittings designed to harmonise with the general treatment, the central dome being lighted by a large circular metal and glass fitting with branching lanterns.

Seating is on ample lines, the chairs being covered with a floral-patterned material of buff and cerise and being entirely Dunlopillo upholstered. The carpet to the auditorium and foyers has a scroll and floral design of deep buffs, pinks and brown on a light buff ground.

The stage is fitted with rolling shutters and counterweighted sets for the quick manipulation of stage lighting and drapes. A large Wurlitzer organ is installed with an illuminated console, which is built on a Furse lift.

The sound system is the very latest "High Fidelity " RCA equipment, and fireproof shutters are of Furse construction.

Air-conditioning and Cleaning

The whole of the public portion of the kinema is air-conditioned by means of the Plenum heating and ventilating system, which ensures that fresh washed air, tempered to a suitable degree, is continuously forced into the kinema. J. Jeffreys and Co., Ltd., were the heating and ventilating engineers carrying out this work. The vacuum cleaner installation is by British Vacuum Cleaner and Engineering Co., Ltd., and fire-fighting appliances by Clarke and Vigilant Sprinklers, Ltd.

A commodious café is an important part of the Granada's amenities; kitchen equipment is installed by W. M. Still and Sons, Ltd.

Contractors

Quantity surveyors for the Granada were L. A. Francis and Sons, and the general contractors James Stewart and Sons (Tottenham), Ltd. Sub-contractors were as follows: Iron staircases and railings, Borough Engineering Works, Ltd., Luton; vacuum cleaner installation, British Vacuum Cleaner and Engineering Co., Ltd.; shutters, Frank Burkitt, Ltd.; ventilators, Fred Braby and Co., Ltd.; biobox lights, E. Cooks and son; decorative paint- work, Campbell Bros., Ltd.; fire appliances, Clarke and Vigilant Sprinklers. Ltd.; flush doors, R. Cattle, Ltd.; pay-box bases, H. Darby and Son; ironmongery, W. N. Froy and Sons, Ltd.; fireproof shutters, W. J. Furse and Co., Ltd.; heating and ventilating, J. Jeffreys and Co., Ltd.: plaster, Maple and Co., Ltd.; terra-cotta, Rainfordware, Ltd.; public address system, R. A. Rothermel, Ltd.; terrazzo. W. B. Simpson and Sons, Ltd.; ornamental metalwork and canopy, Swanser and Son, Ltd.; acoustic work, Douglas R. Smart and Son, Ltd.; kitchen equipment, W. M. Still and Sons, Ltd.; electrical work, Troughton and Young, Ltd.; asbestos roofing, Universal Asbestos Manufacturing Co., Ltd.; organ, Wurlitzer Cinema Organs; sound installation. RCA Photophone; organ lift, W. J. Furse and Co., Ltd.'

The above text in quotes was first published in the Kinematograph Weekly Supplement, 9th of November 1939.

Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the former Granada Cinema, Kingston as the Oceana Nightclub in October 2012 - Click to Interact.

The Kingston Granada had first opened on the 3rd of November 1939 and was one of Kingston's main Cinemas for many years but in 1973 it was closed and converted into a three screen cinema with a large number 1 screen in the former circle and former front stalls, and two more screens in the former rear stalls beneath the circle, it reopened in December the same year.

Right - The Wurlitzer Organ at the Kingston Granada being played by Armsbee Bancroft for a Sunday Concert on the 9th of March 1975 - Courtesy Ian Mciver, who was involved with the restoration of the Organ during the period between 1968 and 1974.

Despite the tripling of the Theatre in 1973 its Organ was retained and used for concert performances in Screen 1 on Sunday mornings, and was restored between 1968 and 1974, sadly it would be removed in 1982 however.

The Granada was closed on the 29th of January 1987 but thankfully it was Grade II Listed by English Heritage the following day so has been preserved for the future.

Left - The left hand side Organ Grill, made of plaster, at the Kingston Granada in 1975, there was a mirror-image set of grills on the opposite side which housed loudspeakers connected to microphones within the organ grilles so that its sound could issue forth from both sides - Courtesy Ian Mciver, who was involved with the restoration of the Organ during the period between 1968 and 1974.

After the closure in 1987 the former circle and front stalls of the Theatre were converted into a Nightclub but the two small screens in the rear stalls were kept and another screen was added higher up.

Managed by a number of different Cinema Operators over the following years the cinemas were finally closed by ABC on the 28th of August 2002, and then the entire building was converted and refurbished for Nightclub use as the Oceana. At the same time a new Odeon Multiplex was opened next door in October 2002.

The Oceana Nightclub was closed after someone was killed there in 2012 and its licence was revoked. However, on appeal, when the management agreed to cut the capacity and introduce ID scanners, the decision was overturned and the venue reopened as Pryzm Nightclub in 2014 and remains today.

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