I grew up in Nuneaton, and ever since I was a lad I've wanted to have a mooch in this building. My grandfather was actually a projectionist here in the mid 40's and was telling me only recently about switching on the spotlights to illuminate the organ just before a performance. I used to look up at the projection room balcony and long to have a look in the pigeon infested rooms.
My parents both attended the ABC Minor's Saturday morning shows in the 60's, which consisted of a cartoon, news reel, serial, and a film. My mother recalls that the stalls were a tanner, and the circle 9d. A zoom ice lolly was thruppence, but a FAB was more, so if she fancied a FAB then it had to be the stalls!
I first tried to go in here when it was still a GALA, however the manager took great delight in saying he had turned away many a person wishing to take photos. Small pleasures I guess... I did get inside post closure a few years ago but set the bells off after a few seconds inside, so made a hasty retreat.
2019 has already been great for exploring, and I must say I was quite thrilled to get the nod that it was doable for the moment.
Despite some damp it is actually in very good shape, however it's biggest issue is the town it is sat in. Nuneaton has never in my lifetime managed to preserve or restore anything at all, and I have watched several notable landmark buildings disappear over the years. Cinemas are notoriously hard to re-purpose, so I assume it will sit empty until it either burns down or becomes so disheveled and derelict that demolition is the only option. I'd love to be proved wrong there but 30 years of observation tells me I'm right!
I found the place an absolute bastard to light paint, so the pictures are not quite as perfect as I would have hoped, but I did my best.
Finally made it onto the balcony! Note the "ABC" logo in the ironwork.
The ceiling in the foyer was actually very fine, and the original lights are still present.
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