Coventry Cinemas

Some of the many cinemas that once existed in Coventry are listed below. At the start of World War II there were 22 cinemas in the City, but by 1945 this was reduced to 17 by German bombing, though the Imperial later re-opened. Within the next four decades the number declined to just three.

Some of the surviving cinema buildings have been photographed here.

Those readers interested in wider aspects of Coventry's past may like to refer to www.HistoricCoventry.co.uk.

Name Location OpenedClosedFate
A B C Hertford St 1973 1988  
Alexandra Ford St 1917 1969 became Theatre One
Arts Centre University Rd 1970s date University of Warwick
Astoria 71 Albany Rd 1930s?1959  
Bath Assembly Hall Priory St 1921 1926  
Broadway Albany Rd 1922 1930s became Astoria
Brookville 154 Holbrook Lane1928 1940 bombed, now carpet store
Carlton 574 Stoney Stanton Rd1930s?1940s bombed
La ContinentaleEarlsdon St 1951 1960 became Moulin Rouge
Corn Exchange Hertford St 1910 1914 became Empire
Corona Holbrook Lane 1927 ? became Lyric
Coronet Paynes Lane 1910 1913  
Crown 150 Far Gosford St1912 1958 became Paris
Dovedale Dovedale Ave 1929? 1930s?became Rivoli
Electric Theatre Hertford St ? 1920s became Star
Empire Hertford St 1914 1971 rebuilt as ABC
Forum Walsgrave Rd 1934 1962 became bowling alley
Gaumont Palace Jordan Well 1931 1967 became Odeon
Globe Primrose Hill St 1914 1956 now a nightclub
Godiva Tile Hill Lane 1960s?1976 now a casino
Grand 511 Foleshill Rd 1908 ? became Regal
Imperial Earlsdon St 1911 1951 became La Continentale
Lyric Holbrook Lane 1929 1968  
Moulin Rouge Earlsdon St 1960 1962 demolished 1965
Odeon Far Gosford St 1950s 1963 destroyed by fire 1970
Odeon Jordan Well 1967 1998 triple screen 1975, now taken over by Coventry University
Odeon Croft Rd 1999 date multi screen
Opera House Hales St 1913 1961  
Palladium King William St 1915 1982  
Paris 150 Far Gosford St 19581980s  
Picture Palace Stoney Stanton Rd1910 1940 bombed
Picture Palace Webster St 1913 ? became Tivoli
Picture House 511 Foleshill Rd 1911 ? became Regal
Picture House Hertford St 1910 ? became Electric Theatre
Picture Theatre Hales St 1911 1911 became Royal Electric
Plaza Spon End 1929 1960  
Prince of Wales369 Stoney Stanton Rd19131956 
Redesdale 224 Foleshill Rd 1934 ? became Roxy
Regal 511 Foleshill Rd 1930s?1960 now cash&carry store
Rex Corporation St 1937 1940 bombed, site became temporary market
Rialto Moseley Ave 1928 1940 bombed
Rialto 81-89 Moseley Ave2006 date double screen
Ritz Dovedale Ave 1950s?1970s?due for demolition 2007
Rivoli Dovedale Ave 1930s?1950s?became Ritz
Roxy 224 Foleshill Rd ? 1952  
Royal Cinema Hales St 1927 1930 became furnishers
Royal Electric Hales St 1911 1927 became Royal Cinema
Savoy 268 Radford Rd 1938 1962 now bingo club
La Scala Far Gosford St 1913 1950s became Odeon
Showcase Gielgud Way 1980s date multi screen
Standard Tile Hill Lane 1938 1960s became Godiva
Star Hertford St 1910 1932  
Theatre One Ford St 1970 1997 now a nightclub
Tivoli Webster St ? 1930s  
Top Rank Far Gosford St ? 1970s demolished

John McSparron's Coventry News
This is by no means a complete list. If you have any additions or corrections, e-mail me at john@mcsparron·net. There is a web page with an apparently comprehensive list of cinemas in various towns including Coventry here, often including such details as the number of seats and even old ticket prices!

John W McSparron, Coventry, UK.