Safari Cinema
Safari Cinema was a former multi-screen cinema in Broad Green, Croydon, known particularly for Bollywood programming before closing in 2004.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Safari Cinema was a historic cinema venue at 225 London Road in Broad Green, Croydon, south London. Although it operated under the Safari name only during the late 1990s and early 2000s, the venue had been part of Croydon's cinema landscape since its opening in 1936. It began life as the Savoy, a large single-auditorium cinema opened by Associated British Cinemas and designed by architect William R. Glen. The original building accommodated approximately 2,300 people and was notable for its spacious auditorium and extensive indirect lighting, including ceiling troughs that illuminated the interior without relying on conventional direct fixtures. The cinema suffered a major fire on 31 March 1953, when an electrical fault destroyed the auditorium. Because post-war construction restrictions were still in effect, the building reopened in a more utilitarian form on 27 December 1953. A more substantial reconstruction followed in 1958. The venue closed in July of that year and reopened as ABC Croydon on 19 October with approximately 2,118 seats and a more lavish interior. This ABC phase connected the venue to the wider Associated British Cinemas circuit and established the building as one of the substantial suburban cinemas serving Croydon and the surrounding communities. In 1972, the cinema was converted into a triplex. The rear circle became a screen seating about 650, while the former stalls were divided into two smaller screens with capacities of roughly 390 and 187. The subdivision increased programming flexibility but removed much of the scale and architectural unity of the original auditorium. In 1986 the venue was renamed Cannon, reflecting the ownership and branding changes affecting many British cinemas during that period. It later adopted the Safari Cinema name in the late 1990s. Under the Safari identity, the cinema became particularly associated with Bollywood films, while continuing to show Hollywood blockbusters. Its programming gave it a distinctive role in Croydon's local South Asian cultural and entertainment scene. The venue was eventually unable to withstand competition from the newer Warner Village cinema at the Grants entertainment complex, now associated with the Vue chain. Safari Cinema closed in 2004. The newer multiplex reportedly continued to reserve a screen for Bollywood films after Safari's closure, indicating that demand for the programming remained even though the older venue was no longer commercially viable. The closure prompted local concern because the building was regarded as the last surviving historic cinema from Croydon's Golden Age of cinema construction. Despite objections and public interest, the building was demolished during March and April 2005. Plans for the site involved a residential development of 138 apartments, including 52 key-worker shared-ownership homes. Planning permission was granted and construction was under way by September 2007. The former cinema therefore survives primarily through local historical records, cinema memorabilia, and accounts of its successive identities as the Savoy, ABC Croydon, Cannon, and Safari Cinema.
History
Safari Cinema's building opened on 9 March 1936 at 225 London Road in Broad Green, Croydon. It was commissioned by Associated British Cinemas and designed by William R. Glen. Operating initially as the Savoy, it was built as a substantial single-screen venue with around 2,300 seats. Its large auditorium used predominantly indirect lighting, with illumination supplied through ceiling troughs that contributed to the building's distinctive interior atmosphere. On 31 March 1953, an electrical fault caused a fire that destroyed the auditorium. The venue reopened on 27 December of the same year, although post-war building controls limited the scope and appearance of the reconstruction. A more extensive rebuilding followed in 1958. The cinema closed in July, then reopened on 19 October as ABC Croydon with approximately 2,118 seats and a more elaborate interior. This marked its integration into the ABC cinema identity and renewed its role as one of Croydon's major suburban film venues. The next major alteration came in 1972, when the large auditorium was divided into three screens. The former rear circle became a screen with approximately 650 seats, and the stalls were split into screens seating about 390 and 187 people. The tripling enabled more films to be shown concurrently but resulted in simpler, less ornamented interiors. The venue changed its name to Cannon in 1986 and adopted the Safari Cinema name in the late 1990s. During its Safari period, the venue became especially well known for screening Bollywood films, while also showing Hollywood blockbusters. This programming made it an important local cinema for Croydon's South Asian communities and helped distinguish it from more conventionally mainstream cinemas. Its commercial position weakened after a Warner Village multiplex opened at the Grants entertainment complex. Safari Cinema closed in 2004, and the newer multiplex reportedly continued to show Bollywood films on a designated screen. The building's end was controversial locally. Residents and cinema patrons regarded it as the last surviving historic cinema from Croydon's Golden Age. Nevertheless, the former cinema was demolished in March and April 2005. The site was subsequently approved for residential redevelopment, with a plan for 138 apartments, including 52 key-worker shared-ownership units. Development was in progress by September 2007. Safari Cinema is therefore best understood as the final brand identity of a cinema building whose operational history extended across the Savoy, ABC Croydon, Cannon, and Safari names.
- 2005
Building demolished
[1]The former cinema building was demolished during March and April 2005.
- 2004
Cinema closes
[1]Safari Cinema closed after facing competition from the newer Warner Village cinema at the Grants entertainment complex.
- 1990
Adopts the Safari Cinema name
[1]The venue changed to the Safari Cinema identity in the late 1990s.
- 1986
Renamed Cannon
[1]The cinema adopted the Cannon name in 1986.
- 1972
Venue converted into three screens
[1]A tripling project divided the original auditorium into screens of approximately 650, 390, and 187 seats.
- 1958
Reopens as ABC Croydon after reconstruction
[1]After closing in July for major reconstruction, the cinema reopened on 19 October as ABC Croydon with about 2,118 seats.
- 1953
Fire destroys the auditorium
[1]An electrical fault caused a fire on 31 March 1953 that destroyed the auditorium.
- 1953
Cinema reopens after fire
[1]The venue reopened on 27 December 1953 in a more utilitarian post-war form.
- 1936
The Savoy opens in Broad Green
[1]Associated British Cinemas opened the cinema on 9 March 1936 at 225 London Road. Designed by William R. Glen, it originally had approximately 2,300 seats.
Products and positioning
A local Croydon cinema venue with a long operating history and a distinctive late-period focus on Bollywood films alongside mainstream Hollywood releases.
Cinema programming
Bollywood film screenings
Bollywood films were a defining part of Safari Cinema's late-period programming. The cinema became known locally for serving audiences seeking Indian popular cinema, alongside its broader programme of commercial releases. Its Bollywood role continued to be discussed after closure because the replacement Warner Village venue reportedly reserved one screen for similar programming.
Cinema programming
Hollywood blockbuster screenings
Safari Cinema also screened mainstream Hollywood blockbusters. These releases complemented its Bollywood offering and formed part of the venue's general commercial cinema programme before the site closed in 2004.
Cinema venue · 1972
Three-screen cinema operation
From the 1972 tripling onward, the venue operated with three screens created from the former single auditorium. The conversion provided approximately 650 seats in the former rear circle and smaller screens of approximately 390 and 187 seats in the former stalls.
Brand decisions
2005
Redevelopment of the former cinema siteStrategyBackground
After closure, the vacant building was the subject of redevelopment plans and local concern about the loss of a historic cinema.
Action taken
The building was demolished and the site was approved for a residential development planned to contain 138 apartments, including 52 key-worker shared-ownership homes.
Aftermath
Development was under way by September 2007. The cinema site ceased to function as an entertainment venue.
2004
Closure of Safari CinemaOtherBackground
The opening of a newer Warner Village cinema at the Grants entertainment complex created direct competition for the older venue.
Action taken
Safari Cinema ceased operations in 2004.
Aftermath
The newer cinema reportedly continued to reserve a screen for Bollywood films, while the Safari building was later demolished.
- Warner Village — The newer multiplex reportedly maintained Bollywood programming on one screen after Safari Cinema closed.
1972
Conversion from a single auditorium to three screensGeneration changeBackground
The cinema's original large auditorium was no longer aligned with the operating model of multiplex-style exhibition.
Action taken
The rear circle was converted into one screen and the stalls were divided into two additional screens.
Aftermath
The venue gained greater scheduling flexibility, although the original auditorium's unified architectural character was lost.
Sources2 sources
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