Latitude: 51.4135 / 51°24'48"N
Longitude: -0.3001 / 0°18'0"W
OS Eastings: 518310
OS Northings: 169641
OS Grid: TQ183696
Mapcode National: GBR 83.M0Q
Mapcode Global: VHGR8.RQ5T
Plus Code: 9C3XCM7X+9W
Entry Name: Former Regal Cinema
Listing Date: 13 April 1993
Last Amended: 17 June 2004
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1253350
English Heritage Legacy ID: 203217
Also known as: Kingston Dance Studio
Coral Bingo Club
Gala Bingo Club
Regal Cinema
Union Cinema
Regal Cinema, Kingston upon Thames
Union
ABC
ABC Kingston upon Thames
ID on this website: 101253350
Location: Kingston upon Thames, London, KT2
County: London
District: Kingston upon Thames
Electoral Ward/Division: Canbury
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Built-Up Area: Kingston upon Thames
Traditional County: Surrey
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Greater London
Church of England Parish: Kingston-on-Thames St Luke
Church of England Diocese: Southwark
Tagged with: Bingo hall Cinema
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 16/03/2018
59/3/10003
KINGSTON UPON THAMES
RICHMOND ROAD
22-30, Former Regal Cinema
(Formerly listed RICHMOND ROAD, 22-30 Bingo Hall and Kingston Dance Studio, previously listed as: RICHMOND ROAD Regal Cinema)
13-APR-93
II
Former cinema, now bingo club and dance studios. 1930 to the designs of Robert Cromie as the Regal Cinema. Brown brick over rendered and banded plinth, with areas of plaster and faience decoration concentrated around the entrance and cornice. Rectangular plan with double-height hall, having balcony, accessed from foyers on two levels, the upper one with tea room now serving as dance studios entered separately from side street. Boiler house with chimney at rear.
Main elevation to Richmond Road has entrance near corner, with banded and rendered ground floor forming plinth to tall largely blind facade, with nine giant pilasters under linked band, and fluted concrete cornice. Four stepped or 'fountain style' Art Deco niches within this composition. Entrance is through four original pairs of double doors reached up steps and set under four stylised Ionic pilasters with wave and floral motifs between, in faience tile surround. Canopy to entrance now covered in plastic. Foyer with tripartite ceiling, a series of Art Deco panels and four fluted columns. Auditorium has proscenium arch with very rhythmic modified Greek design, repeated under balcony. Full-height fluting and Art Deco 'fountain' style niches to ante-proscenium ventilation and organ chambers. Wavy oval inset coves to ceiling and under balcony, with arcading to upper side walls incorporating original light fittings. Balcony fronts with fasces and lion's head masks.
Dance studio on first-floor level in former tea rooms. Five bay hall with sprung floor, with full-length seating area behind separated by fluted square columns and paralleled by pilasters on the rear wall. Mirrors in Art Deco 'fountain' motif surrounds. Small stage on opposite. Deep coved ceiling and cornices, with 1950s light fittings.
Source
Malcolm Webb, London's Suburban Cinemas, Amber Valley, 1987
Former dressing rooms and office areas not of special interest.
Included as an early and well-preserved example of an Art Deco cinema from the 1930s, and a good, rare example of the work of a major cinema architect, Robert Cromie. Many of Cromie's designs were for Davies or Union cinemas, and consequently do not survive.
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
Other nearby listed buildings