The Regent

The Regent is a cinema and live-performance venue in Christchurch, Dorset, England. It first opened in 1931 as a purpose-built picture house for the local solicitor Thomas J Rowley, a classic spec build of its era with around 700 seats across stalls and circle. It competed directly with the Pavilion in Bargates and passed through a succession of cinema operators, including Portsmouth Town Cinemas, the Grade organisation and EMI. The cinema closed in 1973 with a double bill of The Thief Who Came to Dinner and The Train Robbers, and the building was then used as a Mecca Bingo and Social Club until 1982. Rather than being demolished, it was saved by a determined group of volunteers who persuaded the Council it could be used for public good, and in 1983 The Regent was reborn as a community venue. Today The Regent operates as a mixed arts venue, screening films and hosting live music, theatre, broadcasts, talks and private events. Its programme combines mainstream and repertory cinema — including themed seasons such as a Tom Cruise retrospective — with tribute concerts, musical theatre, classical and brass-band performances, and family shows. The venue also offers its spaces for hire for performances, screenings, talks, rehearsals and private functions, and it relies heavily on volunteers alongside paid staff and freelance roles across cinema, theatre, technical and front-of-house work. The organisation describes its mission through three values: to be welcoming, collaborative and creative. It is not a large commercial chain but a locally rooted, community-oriented venue, and its history is presented on its own website as a story of local jobs, changing operators, closure and volunteer-led revival. Its official web presence is theregent.co.uk, where it publishes its film and theatre listings, history, team information, job and volunteer opportunities, and venue-hire details.

The Regent opened in 1931 as a brand-new picture house in Christchurch, built for the local solicitor Thomas J Rowley. It was a classic spec build of its era, creating local jobs and turning a tidy profit. With around 700 seats across stalls and circle, it competed head-to-head with the Pavilion in Bargates and soon cycled through a rollcall of cinema operators, from Portsmouth Town Cinemas to the Grade organisation and EMI. The cinema closed in 1973, finishing on a double bill of The Thief Who Came to Dinner and The Train Robbers. Demolition would usually have followed, but bingo had other ideas: The Regent became a Mecca Bingo and Social Club until 1982, complete with a legendary mauve, pink and dark green makeover. When the building fell quiet again, a determined group of volunteers persuaded the Council it could be used for public good, and in 1983 The Regent was reborn. Today, that same community spirit powers a packed programme of films, live shows and broadcasts. The venue presents its mission through three values — to be welcoming, collaborative and creative — and continues to rely on volunteers alongside paid and freelance roles across cinema, theatre, technical and front-of-house work.

• 1983

  The Regent is reborn as a community venue after volunteers persuade the Council it could be used for public good.

• 1982

  The building's period as a Mecca Bingo and Social Club comes to an end.

• 1973

  The cinema closes with a double bill of The Thief Who Came to Dinner and The Train Robbers.

• 1931

  The Regent opens in Christchurch as a purpose-built picture house for local solicitor Thomas J Rowley.

A community-focused, volunteer-supported arts venue combining cinema, live performance and event hire in Christchurch.

• Film screenings

• Live music and tribute concerts

• Theatre and musical theatre

• Live broadcasts

• Venue hire and technical services

1. 1The Regent official websitetheregent.co.uk
2. 2History – The Regenttheregent.co.uk
3. 3About Us – The Regenttheregent.co.uk
4. 4Jobs – The Regenttheregent.co.uk
5. 5Regent Centre – Wikidatawikidata.org