Former Princess Cinema, Princes Drive, Colwyn Bay

This building, now a JD Wetherspoon pub, was built as a cinema in the 1920s. It was named the Princess Picture Theatre, later the Princess Cinema.

Before it was built, there was a small wood in the area to the right of the building. Several times each year, a travelling cinema would set up there, and films would be projected onto a temporary screen in the open air.

For over 40 years the Princess Cinema was owned and managed by Mr Kenyon and his son George. At one stage they owned this and the Cosy Cinema on Conway Road, and employed one projectionist who would run up and down Penrhyn Road changing the reels of film in both cinemas! During the Second World War, when the Ministry of Food was located in the town, the cinema was exceptionally busy. There were a matinee every Wednesday and Saturday and two performances each evening. It was closed every Sunday.

The Princess Cinema closed in 1981 and was converted into a bingo hall. There are no longer any cinemas in Colwyn Bay, but 30 years ago there were four in the town. The Odeon and Arcadia are both demolished, but the former Cosy Cinema is now home to Matthews' hardware store.

With thanks to Graham Roberts, of Colwyn Bay Civic Society

Postcode: LL29 8LA    View Location Map

Website of The Picture House