Building record 7203/0/66 - Ritz Cinema, College Street/Alfred Street

Ritz Cinema owned by Palace Company of Wellingborough, opened in 1936 on a plot of land between College Street and Alfred Street.

{1} Ritz Cinema, College Street/Alfred Street. Ritz Cinema owned by Palace Company of Wellingborough, opened in 1924 [incorrect] on a plot of land between College Street and Alfred Street. The building is still there today and is used as a 'Bingo and Social Club'.Film 3, photo 13.

{2} The Ritz opened in 1936.

{3} It was designed by Paul J Panton of Talbot, Brown and Fisher based in Wellingborough. Built of brick with stone dressings. Seating for 721 in the stalls and 470 in the circle. A particularly large stage hosted amateur dramatic and opera companies as well as pop acts in the 1960s. Plans to demolish the cinema in 1973 were dropped and it became a bingo hall in 1982. Closed in December 2022.

{4} Three-bay brick with central projection framed in mini-fluted frame. Centre has a large rectangular four-light window. Blank openings on the wings. The interior largely survives,

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<2> Rushden & District History Society, 2007, Rushden Research, The Ritz Cinema (Accessed 23/03/2023) (Website). SNN112031.

<3> Cinema Treasures, Cinema Treasures, Ritz Cinema (Accessed 23/03/2023) (Website). SNN114884.

<4> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 562 (Book). SNN111989.

Record last edited

Mar 23 2023 2:48PM