The Ritz | |
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![]() The Ritz in 2016 | |
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General information | |
Architectural style |
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Classification | Grade II* |
Address | 122 Abbey Street |
Town or city | Nuneaton, Warwickshire |
Country | England |
Coordinates | 52°31′29″N 1°28′17″W / 52.524677°N 1.471517°W |
Opened | July 23, 1937 |
Closed | 2007 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Verity and Beverley |
Main contractor | G. E. & W. Wincott |
The Ritz Cinema (better known as The Ritz) is a Grade-II listed art-deco former cinema located on Abbey Street, Nuneaton. It was opened on 23 July 1937, originally for the Union Cinemas circuit, however, in October of the same year, ABC Cinemas would take over the building. [1] [2] The Ritz would stop showing films in 1984. After being used as a cinema, the building would be converted to a bingo hall, and trade as such until its closure. [3]
The Ritz was constructed by cinema architects Verity and Beverley for Union Cinemas. It was founded by David Bernhard and his son, C.F. Bernhard. [4] It opened to the public for the first time on 23 July 1937. It was opened by Nuneaton Mayor and Councillor, T.L. Liggins, who was accompanied by the Mayoress, with nearly 2,000 people inside for the opening ceremony. [5] Melody for Two and Mysterious Crossing were shown on the opening night. As well as this, a live show took place on-stage. [6]
Around the same time of The Ritz being constructed, plans were unveiled about a Danilo Cinema potentially being built in Nuneaton, but this never went ahead because seven cinemas already existed in town. Mortimer Dent, of the Danilo Cinema Company, was still interested in setting up near to Nuneaton and ultimately chose Hinckley. [7] The proposed Nuneaton location would have marked the first of his Danilo cinemas. [8]
The general contractors for the building, G. E. & W. Wincott of Nuneaton, were also the contractors of the Danilo Cinema in Hinckley. [9] Reports state that there was 'a race' to see which of the two cinemas would open first. The Ritz won and opened just three days before the Danilo. [10]
It closed as a Gala Bingo hall in 2007. The closure was blamed on the smoking ban. [11] A year later in 2008, it received its Grade II listed protection. [12] [13]
Whilst it remained closed from 2008, until 2019 where it was finally purchased, various community projects were launched and many parties shown interest in trying to get the building back in to use once again.
The Ritz was placed back on the market back in June 2008 at a lower asking price of £1.2 million, down from its original £1.5 million price tag, due to "abortive negotiations" with an interested party. Around the same time, rumours were circulating that fashion retailer Primark were taking on the site, but these were denied by chartered surveyors Wright Silverwood. [14]
In November 2009, it was sold privately to a 'mystery' investor, who was believed to be from Nuneaton, but the investor was not named. It failed to meet the £320,000 reserve price at auction. [15]
In February 2010, a year later, "serious interest" was shown in the building by two national leisure operators and a national retailer, neither of which were bingo operators, as a covenant was made with Gala Bingo whilst they had the building which meant it could not be used as a bingo hall again after its closure. [16]
In July 2013, flyposters were replaced with cinema-related art when local Nuneaton-based group, Art Alert, visited the venue as part of their 'Friends of the Ritz' project. [17] [18] In 2013, film director Ken Loach who was born in Nuneaton, backed a £5m plan for the venue to be used again, though nothing came of the plans. [19] [20]
On 27 February 2019, the building was sold for £339,500. [21]
The Ritz had a 'Compton organ' that was in an orchestra pit, which was played by organist Ken Stroud. [22] [23] The organ remains in use at a church in Essex. [24]
it was built for, and was initially operated by the Union Cinemas circuit, but they were taken over in October 1937 by Associated British Cinemas (ABC).
The Ritz Cinema in Nuneaton was designed for the Union Cinema Circuit and was opened on July 23, 1937, with James Melton in 'Melody for Two' and James Dunn in 'Mysterious Crossing' plus a live show on-stage.
Fast forward a decade or three and the cinema became the Ritz until its closure in 1984 when the cinema rolls stopped spinning to make way for bingo.
Nearly two thousand people were present when the opening ceremony which took place on the stage inside the building, was performed by the Mayor of Nuneaton, Councillor T.L. Liggins, who was accompanied by the Mayoress, Mr. E. A. Adams (theatre controller, Union Cineams, Ltd), and Mr. And Mrs. G.W. Wincott.
G. E and W.Wincott of Nuneaton were the contractors for the building.
The general contractors for the Danilo were G. E. & W. Wincott of Nuneaton. Simultaneously Wincott's were also the contractors for the Ritz cinema at Nuneaton. There seemed to be a race for which cinema would open first. The Ritz won and opened on the July 23 1937, just three days before the Hinckley cinema.
It stands almost opposite the Gala Bingo Hall, which closed down at Christmas because of the effects of the smoking ban.
It closed in 2007 and in 2008 the building was Listed at Grade II.
Mr Loach called for The Ritz to be brought "back to life". He said: "The Ritz showed some great films. Let's bring the cinema back to the town centre."
But his pressing concern now is the hollowing-out of our towns and cities, especially places like Nuneaton where, years ago, he tried to save the art-deco Ritz cinema.
It was bought for £339,500 on February 27 this year, after more than a decades' uncertainty surrounding what will happen to the former cinema and bingo hall.
At the front of the stage was an orchestra pit decorated with banks of flowers, and in the centre of the pit a wonderful Compton organ was installed.
After war service Ken resumed his musical career as resident at the Ritz, Nuneaton and since that time he has appeared at numerous other venues.
The former Compton Organ at the Ritz Cinema, Nuneaton is in everyday use at a church in Essex. Here it again [sic] to bring back memories of big shows at the Ritz.