Construction started on the cinema in 1939, but due to the war this was put on hold and it sat as an empty shell until work re commenced post war, when it opened as the Plaza in1952.
Even though it didn’t open until the 50’s the interior design was very much that of 1930’s art deco and remained as a single screen cinema with a seating capacity of 1852.
It closed as a cinema in 1972 and became a County bingo hall, who covered the facade in the corrugated cladding. Grim. As with quite a few bingo halls the stalls were levelled for bingo tables and all that sorta crap, however the balcony seating remained in place.
In 2006 it was sold to Gala Bingo, who made a few alterations, namely to the main doors. This closed 5 years later and has been empty ever since.
Some more info can be found here:
Port Glasgow Cinemas
And a news article for the cannabis farm bust.
Police hail £1 million cannabis haul discovered in old Port Glasgow bingo hall
Anyway……
Not really much to say. Quick nosey in after working in the area, she’s pretty fooked but still worth a look. Suffered a fire at some point too and like I say most of, if not all of the rooms look like this:
Projection room, empty as expected
And a picture taken the above website showing what I think is a spot lamp?
And the spot lamp shoved away in the bog next to the projection room
And an old photo showing how glam it once looked
Nice plaster ceiling above the stairs up to the balcony level
Balcony
And when it was County Bingo
Proscenium
And again as County Bingo
Looking back at the auditorium
Even though it didn’t open until the 50’s the interior design was very much that of 1930’s art deco and remained as a single screen cinema with a seating capacity of 1852.
It closed as a cinema in 1972 and became a County bingo hall, who covered the facade in the corrugated cladding. Grim. As with quite a few bingo halls the stalls were levelled for bingo tables and all that sorta crap, however the balcony seating remained in place.
In 2006 it was sold to Gala Bingo, who made a few alterations, namely to the main doors. This closed 5 years later and has been empty ever since.
Some more info can be found here:
Port Glasgow Cinemas
And a news article for the cannabis farm bust.
Police hail £1 million cannabis haul discovered in old Port Glasgow bingo hall
Anyway……
Not really much to say. Quick nosey in after working in the area, she’s pretty fooked but still worth a look. Suffered a fire at some point too and like I say most of, if not all of the rooms look like this:
Projection room, empty as expected
And a picture taken the above website showing what I think is a spot lamp?
And the spot lamp shoved away in the bog next to the projection room
And an old photo showing how glam it once looked
Nice plaster ceiling above the stairs up to the balcony level
Balcony
And when it was County Bingo
Proscenium
And again as County Bingo
Looking back at the auditorium