Wallaw Cinema

The Wallaw Cinema is a former cinema in Blyth, Northumberland, England, now operating as a Wetherspoons pub called The Wallaw. It is a Grade II listed building, with the listing text describing it as "a rare and good example of a 1930s streamlined Moderne style cinema". The architects were Percy Lindsay Browne, Son and Harding of Newcastle upon Tyne, who designed many cinemas in the north east of England; the design is thought to be by Charles Alfred Harding. It was built for Wallaw Pictures Ltd of Ashington, which had a chain of cinemas in the area, and opened on 16 November 1937. The building was constructed in Moderne style, with an exterior of brick and cement or artificial stone dressings. It originally had 1,600 seats and functioned as both a cinema and a theatre. In 1955 it was taken over by ABC Cinemas. From 1970 it was operated by a succession of independent companies. In 1987 it was converted to have three screens, with two small cinemas under the balcony, leaving the main part of the cinema seating 500 in the circle and 300 in the stalls. The original fittings were retained, including covered lighting and decorative plasterwork, with the proscenium having flanking Moderne-style pilasters. In 1998 it was refurbished and given listed building status, Grade II. It closed in 2003, and after remaining unused for a number of years it was purchased by the pub chain Wetherspoons; it was renovated and opened in December 2013 as "The Wallaw". The pub now hosts a weekly charity pub quiz on Wednesdays and provides a space for multiple local classes and groups.

The Wallaw Cinema was built for Wallaw Pictures Ltd of Ashington, a company that operated a chain of cinemas in the area. It opened on 16 November 1937 in Blyth, Northumberland, England. The architects were Percy Lindsay Browne, Son and Harding of Newcastle upon Tyne, who designed many cinemas in the north east of England; the design is thought to be by Charles Alfred Harding. The building was constructed in Moderne style, with an exterior of brick and cement or artificial stone dressings. It originally had 1,600 seats and served as both a cinema and a theatre. In 1955 it was taken over by ABC Cinemas. From 1970 it was operated by a succession of independent companies. In 1987 it was converted to have three screens, with two small cinemas under the balcony, leaving the main part of the cinema seating 500 in the circle and 300 in the stalls. The original fittings were retained, including covered lighting and decorative plasterwork, with the proscenium having flanking Moderne-style pilasters. In 1998 it was refurbished and given listed building status, Grade II. It closed in 2003, and after remaining unused for a number of years it was purchased by the pub chain Wetherspoons; it was renovated and opened in December 2013 as "The Wallaw". The pub now hosts a weekly charity pub quiz on Wednesdays and provides a space for multiple local classes and groups.

• 2013

  Reopened in December as "The Wallaw" pub after purchase by Wetherspoons.

• 2003

  Closed as a cinema.

• 1998

  Refurbished and given Grade II listed building status.

• 1987

  Converted to three screens, with two small cinemas under the balcony.

• 1970

  Began operation by a succession of independent companies.

• 1955

  Taken over by ABC Cinemas.

• 1937

  Opened on 16 November as a cinema and theatre with 1,600 seats.

A rare surviving example of 1930s streamlined Moderne cinema architecture, now repurposed as a community-oriented pub.

• Cinema screenings

• Theatre performances

• Pub food and drink (current)

1. 1The Wallaw - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Wallaw Cinema, Blyth - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org