Report - ODEON Cinema, Gloucester - February 2024

GRONK · Mar 6, 2024

February 2024

The Visit
Whilst in the area, me and @stranton decided to take a quick look at this one. Having seen @Seffy's excellent report a few days earlier and intrigued to see it for ourselves, we made our way in. Once in, it was very apparent that someone was still taking care of the building, with a sea of dehumidifiers littering the floor and surfaces being relatively dust free. That being said, the bulk of Rank's equipment and branding has now been removed with only a few tell-tale signs of their previous occupation.

[0] - The cinema on 13th April 1974

The History
The Plaza Super Cinema made its grand debut on November 25, 1935, with the screening of "David Copperfield" and "Fixer Uppers." This delightful cinema had seating available in both the stalls and circle sections, operating independently for many years. On January 11, 1956, the Circuits Management Association (CMA) took over the cinema, which eventually became part of the prestigious Rank Organisation. Following this acquisition, the cinema underwent a modern makeover and was rebranded as the Odeon on January 28, 1957.

Unfortunately, the Odeon's time in the spotlight was short-lived, as it closed its doors on August 30, 1975, after just 18 years of operation. The final movies shown at the Odeon were "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" and "Watch Out We're Mad." Soon after closing, the cinema was transformed into a Top Rank Bingo Club, a common practice for Rank-operated cinemas. The remnants of its cinema days can still be seen above the main entrance, although it has been covered by the MECCA branding in recent years. In recent times, Rank has been utilizing the building under its Mecca Bingo brand, but unfortunately, due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, they had to make the tough decision of closing several Mecca Bingo Halls, including the one in Gloucester. It seems that more and more people are now preferring to play bingo online rather than visiting physical locations, which prompted this closure.

However, after the closure, the Gloucester Arts Council approached Rank with an exciting proposal. They suggested converting the building into an arts centre and theatre, and Rank has been incredibly supportive of this endeavor. Not only have they expressed their gratitude for Rank's support, but they will also continue to receive lease payments from Rank until March 2024. With most of the bingo equipment cleared out by Rank, the arts council now has a blank canvas to work with, allowing them to unleash their creativity. What's even more impressive is that Rank has introduced the arts council to the building owners, who have shown tremendous support for their proposal. The owners have agreed to sell the freehold and have even offered a generous five-year rent-free period to give the charity a chance to establish itself. This collaboration between Rank, the arts council, and the building owners holds immense promise for the future of this historic venue. It's truly heartwarming to see different entities coming together to breathe new life into this space.