I've been in two minds about posting this report, considering smiths came to an unfortunate end.
I haven't seen many posts on the place before it was burnt down, so I figured I'd show everyone the state the place was in the weeks before it was burnt down.
It was a spur of the moment trip. We were around Warrington town centre anyway, and we decided to head over. Every man and his dog had been in the place by the time I got to visit. We didn't say long and I didn't have time to get into the theatre, so no pictures of the projector room unfortunately.
Also, didn't really manage to take the nicest of pictures, considering it was an in-out job and the flash off my camera could definitely been seen from outside in certain parts of the building.
Absolute shame some lil pricks had to burn the place down. Had a lot of history behind it and was definitely an iconic building. I'll put money on flats being built on there now.
Bitta history;
In July 2014 plans were submitted to Warrington Borough Council by LPC Living Ltd, Salford Quays-based owners of the venue. The borough council says it cannot oppose demolition because the building is not listed or protected by law. The council now has until 11 August 2014 to approve how work to knock down the building should be carried out.
The venue has been a landmark in the town centre for decades. The building opened in August 1937 as a 1,928 seat cinema and the first film starred Robert Armstrong Without Orders and Chester Morris "I promise to pay."
Before it was renamed Mr Smiths for the second time in its history, it was known as Halo nightclub. This used to be the ABC cinema, or the Ritz. Famous visitors include world-famous comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, who visited in 1952, not to entertain, but to promote performances in Southport and Liverpool. Local entertainer George Formby, who once resided in Stockton Heath, did perform at the venue. The club was previously known as Synergy, and before that Mr Smiths for the first time.
Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachen presented the Granada TV music and dance show, The Hitman and Her, from here in the 1980s. In the time between Mr Smiths and the opening as Synergy in March 2008, it was opened for one night a week, usually for school discos. It became Halo in November 2009, but closed in 2010. It reopened once more as Mr Smiths on 1 October 2011 after it was bought at auction in London earlier in 2011.
(http://www.mywarrington.me.uk/)
And on with the pictures
I haven't seen many posts on the place before it was burnt down, so I figured I'd show everyone the state the place was in the weeks before it was burnt down.
It was a spur of the moment trip. We were around Warrington town centre anyway, and we decided to head over. Every man and his dog had been in the place by the time I got to visit. We didn't say long and I didn't have time to get into the theatre, so no pictures of the projector room unfortunately.
Also, didn't really manage to take the nicest of pictures, considering it was an in-out job and the flash off my camera could definitely been seen from outside in certain parts of the building.
Absolute shame some lil pricks had to burn the place down. Had a lot of history behind it and was definitely an iconic building. I'll put money on flats being built on there now.
Bitta history;
In July 2014 plans were submitted to Warrington Borough Council by LPC Living Ltd, Salford Quays-based owners of the venue. The borough council says it cannot oppose demolition because the building is not listed or protected by law. The council now has until 11 August 2014 to approve how work to knock down the building should be carried out.
The venue has been a landmark in the town centre for decades. The building opened in August 1937 as a 1,928 seat cinema and the first film starred Robert Armstrong Without Orders and Chester Morris "I promise to pay."
Before it was renamed Mr Smiths for the second time in its history, it was known as Halo nightclub. This used to be the ABC cinema, or the Ritz. Famous visitors include world-famous comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, who visited in 1952, not to entertain, but to promote performances in Southport and Liverpool. Local entertainer George Formby, who once resided in Stockton Heath, did perform at the venue. The club was previously known as Synergy, and before that Mr Smiths for the first time.
Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachen presented the Granada TV music and dance show, The Hitman and Her, from here in the 1980s. In the time between Mr Smiths and the opening as Synergy in March 2008, it was opened for one night a week, usually for school discos. It became Halo in November 2009, but closed in 2010. It reopened once more as Mr Smiths on 1 October 2011 after it was bought at auction in London earlier in 2011.
(http://www.mywarrington.me.uk/)
And on with the pictures
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especially as there was zero light in all the rooms exept the old Ritz cafe, it was in similar condition when we went in or around October last year.
