Property Details

Alton Picture House Opened On 18th December 1912. It Had A Semi-circular Brick Façade Which Was Faced In Bath Stone. The Proscenium Was Described As Being ‘highly Ornamental And In A Very Attractive Design’. It Was Closed In 1937 And Re-designed By Portsmouth Based Architect Bates White. Plans Had Been Drawn By Architect Robin A. Thomas In An Art Deco Style. It Re-opened On 18th June 1937. A Balcony Had Been Added Which Increased The Seating Capacity. The Palace Cinema Closed As A Cinema On 28th November 1984 And The Building Then Began Use As A Bingo Club, Ballroom & Disco With Some Wrestling Matches Too, Plus Occasional Films At Holiday Times. In 2003 A Second Screen Seating 60, Was Added In Some Unused Space In The Former Rear Stalls Area. Bingo Continued In The Former Front Stalls. The Current Layout Is Arranged As A Smaller Screen 2 On The 'upper' Ground Floor, Projection Room, Bar, W.c’s Ticket Office And Foyer. At First Floor There Is The Main Screen 1, W.c’s Foyer With Access To Projection Room / Roof. There Is An Independent 1 Bedroom Flat And Lock Up Shop (subject To Pre-existing Tenancy Agreements).