Empire Cinema

Empire Cinema refers to the former cinema on Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, rather than to a national cinema chain or the similarly named Empire Cinemas business. Opened in July 1911, it was an early purpose-built cinema in a seaside resort where entertainment buildings formed a prominent part of the visitor economy. The venue is also known as the Empire Theatre and Empire Picture Playhouse. Its cinema business has ended, but the listed building has continued to host changing forms of entertainment. Designed by architect Arthur S. Hewitt, the building was constructed of gault brick and distinguished by a facade clad in buff vitreous terracotta. Its ornate entrance, decorative plasterwork and vaulted auditorium reflect the architectural ambition given to early cinemas in resort towns. The interior included a balcony, marble-lined stairs, stained-glass windows and decorative figures and motifs. The building was listed at Grade II in 1990 for its architectural and historic interest. Historic England describes it as an early purpose-built cinema retaining features that indicate its original use, despite subsequent alterations. The Empire operated as a cinema through much of the twentieth century. Its programming included regular commercial film screenings; a local account of cinema-going in 1965 recalls it as a second-run venue, sometimes presenting double bills. In the later 1960s it changed to bingo use, while film screenings also continued at some times, including seasonal and late-night shows. It had a brief return to full-time cinema operation in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the nearby ABC Regent closed for bingo. The building’s use as a cinema ultimately ceased. Later incarnations included a nightclub and, after a period of closure, a bar that reopened in 2021. The venue subsequently operated as a live-music and events space. Its owners, the Jay family, have been reported as holding the building since 1947; the family also runs Great Yarmouth’s Hippodrome. In September 2025, the music venue announced a closure, citing cost pressures. The building then returned to use for events in 2026 and became the home of the Flighthouse Trapeze Academy, a circus-training venture. These changing uses are part of the building’s history, not evidence that the historic cinema brand remains in operation as a cinema. The supplied website, empirecinema.com.mt, does not match this Great Yarmouth subject and is therefore not attributed to it. The reference identification, the Marine Parade location, and the building’s documented history make this a sufficiently clear identification; the entry concerns a single historic entertainment venue, not a contemporary cinema company.

The Empire opened on Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, in July 1911, during the growth of purpose-built cinemas as attractions in British seaside resorts. It followed the town’s earlier Gem cinema and became part of the entertainment landscape along the seafront. Its architect was Arthur S. Hewitt. The building’s construction and ornament made it a substantial landmark: it was built of gault brick, with a facade faced in buff vitreous terracotta supplied by the Leeds Fireclay Company. The main entrance occupied a prominent central bay, and the auditorium was designed with a balcony and a decorated vaulted ceiling. As a working cinema, the Empire served both local residents and resort visitors. A first-person account of a 1965 visit describes it as a second-run cinema, showing films after they had played at the town’s ABC cinemas and sometimes offering double bills. The programming and use of the building changed over time. In the later 1960s it was converted to bingo, although accounts record film screenings continuing in some formats, including seasonal morning cartoons and late-night shows. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, it briefly returned to full-time cinema use while the ABC Regent was closed for bingo. The Empire eventually ceased to operate as a cinema. The building then took on nightlife and hospitality roles, including nightclub use and a bar reopening reported in 2021. It later operated as a live-music venue. These changes required adaptations to the interior, including removal of ground-floor auditorium seating and alterations to the proscenium and areas below the stage. Nevertheless, significant architectural features survived. Historic England notes the ornate facade and surviving decorative plasterwork, as well as the balcony and other features associated with its original cinema function. The Empire was designated a Grade II listed building on 15 February 1990. The Jay family has been reported as owner since 1947 and is associated with the Hippodrome in Great Yarmouth. The live-music incarnation announced a closure from 13 September 2025, citing cost pressures. In 2026 the building again hosted events and became the location of the Flighthouse Trapeze Academy. The building’s present and future uses should be distinguished from the former cinema operation: the cinema is defunct, while the historic property has continued to be adapted for entertainment and training.

• 2026

  Trapeze academy begins using the building

  [2]Flying circus school opens inside The Empire in Great Yarmouthbbc.co.uk

  Flighthouse Trapeze Academy established its base at the Empire building, which also reopened for a series of summer events.

• 2025

  Live-music venue announces closure

  [3]Great Yarmouth venue's closure blamed on cost of livingbbcinsight.pages.dev

  The live-music operation announced closure from 13 September, citing cost pressures.

• 2021

  Bar use reported

  [6]Bar use reportedflickr.com

  After a period as a nightclub, the building was reported to have reopened as a bar.

• 1990

  Listed at Grade II

  [1]Empire Cinema, National Heritage List for Englandhistoricengland.org.uk

  The building was added to the National Heritage List for England on 15 February, recognizing its historic and architectural interest.

• 1947

  Jay family ownership reported

  [2]Flying circus school opens inside The Empire in Great Yarmouthbbc.co.uk

  A later account of the building’s history reports that the Jay family acquired it in 1947.

• 1911

  Empire opens on Marine Parade

  [1]Empire Cinema, National Heritage List for Englandhistoricengland.org.uk

  The Empire opened in July as an early purpose-built cinema in Great Yarmouth. It was designed by Arthur S. Hewitt.

• Conversion to bingo use

  [4]Flighthouse: Heritage and circus historyflighthousetrapeze.co.uk

  The building changed from its primary cinema use to bingo, while some film screenings continued at certain times.

• Brief return to full-time cinema

  [4]Flighthouse: Heritage and circus historyflighthousetrapeze.co.uk

  The Empire briefly resumed full-time cinema operation while the ABC Regent was closed for bingo.

A locally significant, multi-use entertainment venue in a Grade II listed former cinema on Great Yarmouth’s seafront. Its identity has shifted from picture house to bingo, nightlife, live events and circus training.

• Cinema · 1911

  Cinema screenings

  The venue’s original and defining service was film exhibition. It presented commercial screenings, and a visitor account from 1965 characterizes it as a second-run cinema that sometimes showed double bills. Films were also shown during some later bingo-era periods, and the venue briefly returned to full-time cinema use in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The cinema operation has since ended.

• Bingo

  Bingo and social-club entertainment

  From the later 1960s, bingo became a significant use of the former cinema. The conversion adapted the auditorium for a different kind of group entertainment while leaving the building’s earlier architectural character partly visible. Film screenings also continued in some formats during this period.

• Nightlife and hospitality

  Nightclub and bar

  After cinema and bingo use, the building accommodated nightclub and bar activity. A bar reopening was reported in 2021. This hospitality use formed one chapter in the venue’s changing role as a seafront entertainment destination.

• Live entertainment

  Live music and events

  The Empire later operated as a live-music and events venue. This incarnation announced that it would close in September 2025, citing cost pressures. The building subsequently returned to hosting events in 2026.

• Circus training · 2026

  Flighthouse Trapeze Academy

  In 2026 the historic venue became the base for Flighthouse Trapeze Academy, a circus-training venture using the building as a dedicated training and events space. This is a new use of the property, not a continuation of its cinema operation.

• 2026

  Repurposing for trapeze training and eventsStrategy

  Background

  Following the closure of the live-music venue in September 2025, the building was again used for events.

  Action taken

  Flighthouse Trapeze Academy established its base at the Empire building.

  Aftermath

  The former cinema continued as an adaptable entertainment property, although its original cinema business remained defunct.

  Source

• Shift from cinema toward bingoStrategy

  Background

  The building’s original cinema use was adapted as entertainment and audience patterns changed.

  Action taken

  The Empire was converted to bingo use, with some film screenings continuing at particular times.

  Aftermath

  Bingo became a major phase in the venue’s history before a short return to full-time cinema and later nightclub and hospitality uses.

  Source

• Temporary return to full-time film exhibitionStrategy

  Background

  The nearby ABC Regent had closed to become a bingo club.

  Action taken

  The Empire briefly resumed full-time cinema operation.

  Aftermath

  The return was temporary; the building later moved into nightclub and other entertainment uses.

  Source

1. 1Empire Cinema, National Heritage List for Englandhistoricengland.org.uk
2. 2Flying circus school opens inside The Empire in Great Yarmouthbbc.co.uk
3. 3Great Yarmouth venue's closure blamed on cost of livingbbcinsight.pages.dev
4. 4Flighthouse: Heritage and circus historyflighthousetrapeze.co.uk
5. 5Great Yarmouth in the sixtiesnorfolkatthepictures.wordpress.com
6. 6Bar use reportedflickr.com