Staines is an urban area in the Borough (Hundreds) of Spelthorne (Spelethorne). The main towns in Spelthorne are Staines (Stanes), Ashford (Exeford), Stanwell (Stanwelle), Shepperton (Scepertone), Sunbury (Sunbarie). Staines is the administrative centre of the Borough and has the largest shopping area. Spelthorne is a district of London, that has a population of approximately 90,000, and covers 21 square miles.

(words in brackets are from the Doomsday Book. c.1086.)

The Palace
The first Cinema in Staines was in the former Margaret Pope School on Thames Street, pre 1910. It was called the Palace. It closed in the 1920's, and eventually was demolished, along with many other beloved buildings, in the 1960's.

Postcard of the Palace. © Barry Dix

The Empire

The 'Empire Cinematograph Company' came along in 1914 along the High Street close to the Iron Bridge. It changed its name to 'The Empire' in the 30's, and in the 60's was changed again to the Paris Empire Cinema, but we probably all knew it better as 'The Fleapit'! Recently (2018) those buildings along the High Street were some of those demolished for the new road round to the Two Rivers from the Iron Bridge, and in 2020, the Premier Inn, to be built.

The Majestic

The Majestic was built where the old Marmaduke Hotel was, next to the Post Office just past the Iron Bridge in 1929.
It was a luxurious experience going to the Majestic, with plush seats and velvet curtains, and it just smelled 'posh'!
It was closed in 1961. An office block was built there in 1963, and that building and the Old Post Office were demolished and now (2020) a modern Apartment block stands in that spot plus a small Co-op shop.

The Regal

The Regal Cinema, Associated British Cinemas(ABC), opened in 1939, designed by W.R. Glen ABC’s in-house architect in the Art Deco style, it only had one screen, and the Cigarette Advertisement (what a NO NO now!) outside that couldn't be missed. When you wanted to know what film was coming next you just had to look at the sign on the corner as you crossed Staines Bridge.
First film shown was 'Three Loves Has Nancy'.

The inside of the Regal. Seating was provided for 1,103 in the stalls and 510 in the circle.

This was the most popular Cinema, with queues going right around to the back by the river when a good film was showing. The word always was that the Regal was sinking into the Thames... but it never did!

The Cinema was closed in 1970, for an overhaul and didn’t reopen until 1971 with Frankie Howard in "Up Pompeii" and Clint Eastwood in "Kelly’s Heroes". See photo below.

The second incarnation of the Regal (ABC) in 1971 when it had 2 screens ABC 1 and ABC 2.

In 1972 it was again altered when ABC 2 was changed creating two screens, making three screens altogether.
The third and final incarnation of the Cinema in 1973, at this point it had the 3 screens. ABC 1,2,3.

Take overs
It was first taken over by the EMI Group in 1979, then by the Cannon Group in February 1986, and was re-named Cannon later that year. From 1993, it was re-named MGM. Taken over in a management buy-out in 1998, it became the ABC again. At the end it was taken over by Odeon Theatres Ltd.

The End
As we have seen in Staines, nothing lasts forever, and in 2001 the Cinema that had had so many changes through the years, was finished. It's doors were closed forever in January 2001 and all that was left were our memories from Saturday Morning pictures, to a snog up in the back seat of the balcony. I believe we were all saddened to see it go.

The building was demolished in August 2001, and below you will see what stands in the space now.

It closed for good in 2001 and was demolished. All the laughter and tears, loves found and lost, dreams of what we could become by watching the on screen stars playing make believe, all gone into the ether. To stay in our memories only.

Luxury Apartments and a couple of restaurants are now in the spot where we all watched film after film.

This is what stands in the area where the Bush Inn had it's own land for horses to graze on before this Bridge was built, and later the magnificent Bridge House Hotel stood here, and then the Regal Cinema, stood proud and enthralled us all with the Movies shown inside!

These are luxury flats that face the River, the Bridge, Clarence Street and the Colne River. There are also a few restaurants in the lower level. such as the 'Slug & Lettuce' shown in this photo. (see Restaurants page)