Date of closure: TBC
Address (for reference only):
Independent (Lost Halls)
Moulsham Street
Chelmsford
CM2 0HR
Details of the Regent’s life as a bingo hall, and the circumstances leading to its demise are scant, but we do know a bit of the building’s general history.
Having been built in 1913, the Regent had over a thousand seats, and was equipped for variety, although a few years after its opening, it changed to showing films full time. As can be seen from the photos in the gallery, the building’s interior was quite ornate, and its exterior was of classical design.
The cinema closed in 1975 to make way for bingo, and as the building is listed, it has not been demolished since closure, but now exists as a bar.
By Gareth Whieldon (September 2010)
Chelmsford is not a large place, and as a consequence, this previous cinema and bingo hall is not huge. It is however a good example of turn of the century architecture externally, and internally it still show how much effort was put into plasterwork to achieve a classical effect. Note the detail on the ceiling rose below, and the Greco-Roman theme that carries on throughout the premises.
It’s unlikely that if cinemas were ever to make a big come back that they would come anywhere this level of design. It would simply cost too much. The same can be said of the external masonry, as this is more than mere facade, and happily the building still exist under protection.
By Gareth Whieldon (September 2010)
If you have any photos from this lost hall, be it of its interior, the staff, special events, parties, customers and more; and you’d like to share them here, please contact us to arrange adding them to the site.
