As demolition work continues on Chester's former Mecca Bingo building, local cinema enthusiasts are reflecting on the long history of a venue that once stood at the heart of the city's entertainment scene.

Long before it became a bingo hall, the Brook Street landmark was Chester's first 2,000-seat "super cinema", known as the Gaumont Palace.

Opened in 1931, the cinema was designed by Birmingham architect William T. Benslyn and built by contractors McLaughlin & Harvey. At a time of economic hardship, it offered audiences a sense of glamour and escapism, with lavish interiors, a vast auditorium and what was claimed to be one of the largest cinema balconies in northern England.

The auditorium featured ornate plasterwork finished in pastel shades of orange, green and mauve, accented with red and gold. A large illuminated dome dominated the ceiling, meanwhile richly upholstered seats and luxurious carpet reflected the opulence of the era.

The building also housed the Oak Restaurant, a Tudor-inspired dining room which could accommodate 150 diners. It soon became a popular destination for shoppers and cinema-goers alike.

The venue was officially opened by Chester's mayor, Councillor John Morris, with the first screening being the comedy film On Approval, starring Tom Walls and Yvonne Arnaud.

Entertainment also extended beyond the screen. A John Compton theatre organ was installed at a cost of £10,000, played on the opening by renowned organist Leslie James. Many HMV gramophone recordings and radio broadcasts were made at the Gaumont, mainly by the famous organist, Sydney Gustard.

During its heyday, the Gaumont welcomed some of the biggest names in British entertainment, including Cliff Richard and Billy Fury.

advertisement

However, the arrival of rival cinemas, including the Odeon and ABC Regal in the late 1930s, increased competition for audiences. Although the Gaumont remained popular throughout the 1940s and 1950s, changing leisure habits and the rise of television gradually eroded attendance.

After five years the cinema's name was shortened to The Gaumont.

Local cinema historian Peter Davies, a former projectionist at Chester's ABC Regal and Odeon cinemas, said lengthy runs of major productions such as South Pacific and The King and I continued to attract large audiences, but the economics of operating vast cinema buildings became increasingly difficult.

Speaking about the demise of the cinema, Peter Davies, a former projectionist at the City's ABC Regal and Odeon cinemas said extended runs of films like South Pacific, and The King and I drew thousands of movie goers.

"Unfortunately, television and other sources of entertainment were beginning to impact large cinemas, who began to struggle to keep the huge buildings viable," he said.

"The Gaumont was one of several cinemas in the city that the then owners, The Rank Organisation, decided to close. The final film, The Marriage-Go-Round was shown on Saturday 9 December 1961."

At a cost of £100,000, the building was subsequently transformed into a 24-lane Top Rank bowling alley. Less than a decade later it was converted again, becoming a bingo hall in 1970.

Despite several changes of ownership and branding, bingo continued at the site for more than 50 years before the building was sold for redevelopment.

advertisement

Today, the majority of the existing building is being demolished to make way for Hotel Chester, a new 146-bed development expected to open in late 2026.

Developers have said key historic features will be retained, including the mock-Tudor frontage and the section of the building containing the former Oak Room and its ornate ceiling. Architectural elements of the new development will also seek to reflect Chester's heritage and the building's cinema past.

Hotel Chester is expected to create around 80 jobs.

More information about the history of the Gaumont Palace and Chester's lost cinemas, including archive photographs and memories can be found here.