Ritz Cinema, Barrow-in-Furness

The Ritz Cinema, Barrow-in-Furness, was a cinema located at the junction of Abbey Road and Holker Street in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. Designed in a typical Art Deco style by the architectural firm Drury & Gomersall, it was constructed in 1936 on a previously undeveloped site. The first film screened there was It's Love Again. Beyond the auditorium, the building contained a row of four retail shops at ground-floor level fronting Abbey Road, and at one point also housed a restaurant. Ownership and naming changed several times over the cinema's life. Soon after completion it was taken over by ABC Cinemas, and between 1961 and 1977 it was known simply as the ABC. It was then bought by Hutchinson Leisure and renamed the Astra; during this period the venue was completely refitted and two extra screens were added to the existing one. The largest screen seated 640, while the two smaller screens seated 260 each. In the last part of its functioning life the cinema was purchased by Apollo Leisure and renamed the Apollo. In 1999, Hollywood Park in Barrow was completed, including a six-screen multiplex operated by Apollo Leisure. As a result, the redundant Apollo Cinema on Abbey Road closed down. Numerous proposals to conserve the building were presented, but a fire gutted the structure in the early 2000s, scuppering any hope of redevelopment. It was ultimately demolished in 2003, and the site is now occupied by Emlyn Hughes House, a four-storey office building serving as the headquarters of Furness Building Society.

The Ritz Cinema was built in 1936 on a previously undeveloped site at the junction of Abbey Road and Holker Street in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. It was designed in a typical Art Deco style by the architectural firm Drury & Gomersall. The first film to be screened at the venue was It's Love Again. The building also contained a row of four retail shops at ground-floor level fronting Abbey Road, and at one point a restaurant. Soon after completion, ownership passed to ABC Cinemas. Between 1961 and 1977 the venue was known simply as the ABC. It was subsequently bought by Hutchinson Leisure and renamed the Astra. During this period the cinema was completely refitted, and two extra screens were added to the existing one. The largest of the screens seated 640, while the smaller two seated 260 each. In the last part of its functioning life the cinema was purchased by Apollo Leisure and renamed the Apollo. In 1999, Hollywood Park in Barrow was completed, including a six-screen multiplex operated by Apollo Leisure. As a result, the redundant Apollo Cinema on Abbey Road closed down. Numerous proposals to conserve the building were presented, but a fire gutted the structure in the early 2000s, scuppering any hope of redevelopment. The building was ultimately demolished in 2003. The site is now occupied by Emlyn Hughes House, a four-storey office building that serves as the headquarters of Furness Building Society.

• 2003

  After a fire gutted the structure in the early 2000s, the building is demolished; the site is now occupied by Emlyn Hughes House.

• 1999

  Hollywood Park in Barrow is completed, including a six-screen multiplex by Apollo Leisure; the redundant Apollo Cinema on Abbey Road closes.

• 1977

  The ABC name period ends; the cinema is bought by Hutchinson Leisure and renamed the Astra, with a complete refit and two extra screens added.

• 1961

  The venue becomes known simply as the ABC, following ownership by ABC Cinemas.

• 1936

  The Ritz Cinema is constructed on a previously undeveloped site at Abbey Road and Holker Street, Barrow-in-Furness, designed by Drury & Gomersall; the first film screened is It's Love Again.

A local Art Deco cinema and later multi-screen venue in Barrow-in-Furness, ultimately made redundant by a newer multiplex.

• Cinema screenings

• Retail units (four shops fronting Abbey Road)

• Restaurant

1. 1Ritz Cinema, Barrow-in-Furnessen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ritz Cinema, Barrow-in-Furnesswikidata.org