Explore -
Been wanting to explore some sort of cinema for a while and after a few failed attempts in Liverpool thought I’d give this one a go. Never been happier to finally see the classic red pews. We could have spent longer inside as I believe the old school projector has been left behind but it just became an in and out job. Be careful with this one though as the building is directly opposite a police station.
History -
Neuadd Buddug (Victoria Hall) is both a Cinema and Theatre, once boasting the latest Digital Cinema technology. Originally built in the 1890’s and named after Queen Victoria's visit to Bala, it became a Cinema/Theatre showing the latest movies, live streamed Theatre productions from the National Theatre and regular Live Music. By the 1930’s it had become the Victoria Cinema with seating for 350. Its name was changed to Sinema Neuadd Buddug (Cinema Hall Building) whilst owned by Gwynnedd District Council, it presented first run films and live stage performances before ceasing to show films on 1st April 2015, when the supply of 35mm films ran out.
In 2016 the building was saved from permanent closure following a year-long campaign by volunteer action group Ffrindiau Neuadd Buddug (Friends of Buddug Hall), after it raised £20,000 from community donations and secured a £60,000 investment from the Arts Council of Wales for a new (digital) projector and sound system. The group also fundraised (without assistance from the council) a further £7,500 for a disabled toilet and ramp and £6,000 for a broken boiler. However the cinema ran at a loss and fell into a state of disrepair. Gwynedd council, saying it did not have the resources to make the “sigificant investment” required to keep the building open, decided to move the cinema equiment to the school hall of the new £10million Ysgol y Berwyn learning campus in early-2019. The cinema duly closed at the end of December 2018, when three part-time and two casual workers were made redundant.
Been wanting to explore some sort of cinema for a while and after a few failed attempts in Liverpool thought I’d give this one a go. Never been happier to finally see the classic red pews. We could have spent longer inside as I believe the old school projector has been left behind but it just became an in and out job. Be careful with this one though as the building is directly opposite a police station.
History -
Neuadd Buddug (Victoria Hall) is both a Cinema and Theatre, once boasting the latest Digital Cinema technology. Originally built in the 1890’s and named after Queen Victoria's visit to Bala, it became a Cinema/Theatre showing the latest movies, live streamed Theatre productions from the National Theatre and regular Live Music. By the 1930’s it had become the Victoria Cinema with seating for 350. Its name was changed to Sinema Neuadd Buddug (Cinema Hall Building) whilst owned by Gwynnedd District Council, it presented first run films and live stage performances before ceasing to show films on 1st April 2015, when the supply of 35mm films ran out.
In 2016 the building was saved from permanent closure following a year-long campaign by volunteer action group Ffrindiau Neuadd Buddug (Friends of Buddug Hall), after it raised £20,000 from community donations and secured a £60,000 investment from the Arts Council of Wales for a new (digital) projector and sound system. The group also fundraised (without assistance from the council) a further £7,500 for a disabled toilet and ramp and £6,000 for a broken boiler. However the cinema ran at a loss and fell into a state of disrepair. Gwynedd council, saying it did not have the resources to make the “sigificant investment” required to keep the building open, decided to move the cinema equiment to the school hall of the new £10million Ysgol y Berwyn learning campus in early-2019. The cinema duly closed at the end of December 2018, when three part-time and two casual workers were made redundant.
