Report - Former Odeon Cinema / Top Rank Bingo Club, Gloucester - February 2024

[Seffy]

Odeon Cinema / Top Rank Bingo Club / Mecca Bingo, Gloucester

Some history of a brief nature:
​

The building first opened in 1935 as a cinema by the name of Plaza Super Cinema, which it remained operating as until 1957 when it was modernised taken over by Odeon cinemas. Just under twenty years later it was sold and converted into a Top Rank Bingo Club, the name of which can still be made out on the facade to this day. At some point in the 1990s, the building was then sold to Mecca Bingo, who used it until July 2022 when it closed and has lain dormant ever since.

When it operated as a cinema, it had just the one screen and seated 1845 people! There was a cafe situated in the circle foyer. The last film to be shown was 'The 7th Voyage of Sinbad' on 30th August 1975. There are two self-contained retail units at the front of the building which are accessed directly from Eastgate Street. The building is currently available to rent, with no potential buyer on the horizon to my (or the internet's) knowledge.​

Firstly, I have to give full credit to @WhoDaresWins for this lead. It wasn't even on my radar until he mentioned it a short while back; Gloucester isn't a place that either of us really frequent, despite it being pretty close to home. Having been keen for some distractions from life recently, I jumped at the chance to get up to a bit of mischief in some unfamiliar territory so after a pint in the local sp00ns, which also happened to be an old cinema , we got down to business. Took a bit of lateral thinking and a fair amount of time, but we finally found ourselves stood inside the grandiose auditorium and eagerly looking for the light switches. Quite why they can't just have all the required switches in one place is beyond me, but eventually we managed to figure out which ones to flick without lighting up the facade and alleyways like a Christmas tree.

Unfortunately, there are very few original features remaining inside in reality. The projection room is full of air ducting and ventilation with very few distinguishable features to indicate its former use; the screen is long gone to make way for bingo tack and cupboards/under stage area are totally empty. It's always good to be able to provide an update on these old cinemas and, as far as we can tell, no one has been able to do so from here since closure, so it was a successful trip nonetheless. Cinemas aren't usually my thing despite this being the second one I've done in the last month, but I can see people love 'em.

Photos

Facade

Foyer area

Main auditorium is accessed through two roller shutters

Corridors leading to offices and balcony (the original way)

Looking up to the balcony

Balcony

Stairs down to circle area - these were surely a later addition

Circle area

Main auditorium and stage

Behind the scenes / under the stage/ former screen area

Foolishly, I seemingly forgot to take any photos in the projection room. Likely because it was so uninteresting, but thankfully WDW took a couple which I'll add here (thanks mate):

And a quick one from the roof space, with the hatch that is just a straight drop to the bottom of the hall

WDW, with a funny face, making himself at home

Peace.​

 

[mookster]

Good to see this one! It seems to lack the flair of other ex-cinema bingo conversions, quite a reserved colour palette for one of them.

 

[WhoDaresWins]

Stellar report fella. Lit the place up like a Christmas tree in the end didn’t we

 

[GRONK]

Boom, that’s stunning! Nice work @Seffy

 

[Speed]

Fair play! Was one off the many alarms still going off in there? Think every time I've looked there's been a differnt bell or syren sounding inside!

 

[WhoDaresWins]

Fair play! Was one off the many alarms still going off in there? Think every time I've looked there's been a differnt bell or syren sounding inside!

There is some kind of alarm/beeping going off but only in the foyer area.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Nicely covered. Its still looking good!

 

[DustySensorPhotography]

FUCK I tried this one a couple months ago and she was sealed tight… I guess I’ll have to return, congrats!

 

[Bazza74]

As much as the old cinemas are charismatic i do quite like a cinema that’s been converted with a vivid paint scheme. These old bingo hall conversions will be missed in time I think.Well captured, love the foyer pics.