Ritz Cinema, Nuneaton
{{Short description|Cinema in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox building
| name = The Ritz
| image = Nuneaton Ritz 2024.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_caption = The Ritz in 2024
| coordinates = {{coord|52.524677|-1.471517}}
| former_names =
| alternate_names =
| building_type =
| architectural_style = {{Flatlist|
- Art-Deco
- Neo Egyptian
- Chinoiserie
}}
| classification = Grade II*
| location =
| address = 122 Abbey Street
| location_city = Nuneaton, Warwickshire
| location_country = England
| opened_date = {{Start date|1937|07|23}}
| closing_date = 2007
| architect = Verity and Beverley
| main_contractor = G. E. & W. Wincott
{{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Grade II Listed Building
| designation1_offname = Ritz Cinema
| designation1_type =
| designation1_criteria =
| designation1_date = 4 September 2008
| delisted1_date =
| designation1_partof =
| designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1392744|short=yes}}
}}
}}
The Ritz Cinema (better known as The Ritz) is a Grade-II listed art-deco former cinema located on Abbey Street, Nuneaton. It was opened on 23 July 1937, originally for the Union Cinemas circuit, however, in October of the same year, ABC Cinemas would take over the building.{{cite web |title=Ritz Cinema |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/25909 |website=Cinema Treasures |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204054852/http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/25909 |archive-date=4 February 2015 |language=en |quote=it was built for, and was initially operated by the Union Cinemas circuit, but they were taken over in October 1937 by Associated British Cinemas (ABC).}}{{cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Claire |title=Revealed: CGI images of the future plans for The Ritz in Nuneaton |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/in-your-area/revealed-cgi-images-future-plans-19691934 |website=Coventry Telegraph |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126061037/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/in-your-area/revealed-cgi-images-future-plans-19691934 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |language=en |date=26 January 2021 |quote=The Ritz Cinema in Nuneaton was designed for the Union Cinema Circuit and was opened on July 23, 1937, with James Melton in 'Melody for Two' and James Dunn in 'Mysterious Crossing' plus a live show on-stage.}} The Ritz would stop showing films in 1984. After being used as a cinema, the building would be converted to a bingo hall, and trade as such until its closure.{{cite web |title=The Fate of the Former Nuneaton Bingo Hall Now Known |url=https://www.twolittlefleas.co.uk/bingo-news/what-now-for-nuneatons-former-ritz-bingo-hall/ |website=Two Little Fleas |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907130309/https://www.twolittlefleas.co.uk/bingo-news/what-now-for-nuneatons-former-ritz-bingo-hall/ |archive-date=7 September 2021 |language=en |date=25 October 2019 |quote=Fast forward a decade or three and the cinema became the Ritz until its closure in 1984 when the cinema rolls stopped spinning to make way for bingo.}}
History
The Ritz was constructed by cinema architects Verity and Beverley for Union Cinemas. It was founded by David Bernhard and his son, C.F. Bernhard.{{cite book |last1=Hornsey |first1=Brian |title=Ninety Years of Cinema in Nuneaton |date=1 March 1994 |publisher=Fuchsiaprint |isbn=9781873969045 |page=15 |url=https://www.waterstones.com/book/ninety-years-of-cinema-in-nuneaton/brian-hornsey/9781873969045 |access-date=8 September 2021 |language=en |format=Paperback}} It opened to the public for the first time on 23 July 1937. It was opened by Nuneaton Mayor and Councillor, T.L. Liggins, who was accompanied by the Mayoress, with nearly 2,000 people inside for the opening ceremony.{{cite web |author1=Nuneaton Local History Group |title=Opening Ceremony - Mayor and the New Building |url=https://essaydocs.org/newsletter-of-the-nuneaton-local-history-group.html |website=Essay Docs |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907195620/https://essaydocs.org/newsletter-of-the-nuneaton-local-history-group.html |archive-date=7 September 2021 |language=en |quote=Nearly two thousand people were present when the opening ceremony which took place on the stage inside the building, was performed by the Mayor of Nuneaton, Councillor T.L. Liggins, who was accompanied by the Mayoress, Mr. E. A. Adams (theatre controller, Union Cineams, Ltd), and Mr. And Mrs. G.W. Wincott.}} Melody for Two and Mysterious Crossing were shown on the opening night. As well as this, a live show took place on-stage.{{cite news |last1=Harrison |first1=Claire |title=Revealed: CGI images of the future plans for The Ritz in Nuneaton |url=https://coventrytelegraph.net/in-your-area/revealed-cgi-images-future-plans-19691934 |access-date=7 September 2021 |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126061037/https://coventrytelegraph.net/in-your-area/revealed-cgi-images-future-plans-19691934 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |language=en}}
Around the same time of The Ritz being constructed, plans were unveiled about a Danilo Cinema potentially being built in Nuneaton, but this never went ahead because seven cinemas already existed in town. Mortimer Dent, of the Danilo Cinema Company, was still interested in setting up near to Nuneaton and ultimately chose Hinckley.{{cite book |last1=Lea |first1=Peter |title=The Auditorium: A Historical Look at Cinemas in and Around Old North Warwickshire |date=20 December 2014 |publisher=Peter Lea |isbn=978-0951940006 |page=25 }} The proposed Nuneaton location would have marked the first of his Danilo cinemas.{{cite book |last1=Welland |first1=Victor |title=A History of Theatre in Nuneaton |publisher=Nuneaton Local History Group |page=166 |url=http://www.nuneatonhistory.com/index.html |access-date=8 September 2021 |language=en}}
The general contractors for the building, G. E. & W. Wincott of Nuneaton, were also the contractors of the Danilo Cinema in Hinckley.{{cite web |title=Danilo Cinema |url=http://www.hinckleypastpresent.org/thedanilo.html |website=Hinckley District Past and Present |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103051540/http://www.hinckleypastpresent.org/thedanilo.html |archive-date=3 January 2015 |quote=G. E and W.Wincott of Nuneaton were the contractors for the building.}} Reports state that there was 'a race' to see which of the two cinemas would open first. The Ritz won and opened just three days before the Danilo.{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Michael |title=Past Times: A history of Hinckley's Danilo Cinema |url=https://www.hinckleytimes.net/news/local-news/past-times-history-hinckleys-danilo-10537386 |access-date=7 September 2021 |work=Hinckley Times |date=7 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918095949/https://www.hinckleytimes.net/news/local-news/past-times-history-hinckleys-danilo-10537386 |archive-date=18 September 2020 |language=en |quote=The general contractors for the Danilo were G. E. & W. Wincott of Nuneaton. Simultaneously Wincott’s were also the contractors for the Ritz cinema at Nuneaton. There seemed to be a race for which cinema would open first. The Ritz won and opened on the July 23 1937, just three days before the Hinckley cinema.}}
It closed as a Gala Bingo hall in 2007. The closure was blamed on the smoking ban.{{cite web |title=Smoking ban blamed for landmark Nuneaton pub closure |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/smoking-ban-blamed-landmark-nuneaton-3098583 |website=Coventry Telegraph |access-date=14 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014221049/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/smoking-ban-blamed-landmark-nuneaton-3098583 |archive-date=14 October 2021 |language=en |date=1 April 2008 |quote=It stands almost opposite the Gala Bingo Hall, which closed down at Christmas because of the effects of the smoking ban.}} A year later in 2008, it received its Grade II listed protection.{{cite web |title=Light fittings and decorative plasterwork in the ceiling of the auditorium of the Gala Bingo Club (NWC01/01/0511) Archive Item - Norman Walley Cinema Collection |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/NWC01/01/0511 |website=Historic England |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907223026/https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/NWC01/01/0511 |archive-date=7 September 2021 |language=en |quote=It closed in 2007 and in 2008 the building was Listed at Grade II.}}{{cite web |title=RITZ CINEMA, Nuneaton and Bedworth - 1392744 |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1392744 |website=Historic England |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023035512/https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1392744 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |language=en}}
Closure
Whilst it remained closed from 2008, until 2019 where it was finally purchased, various community projects were launched and many parties shown interest in trying to get the building back in to use once again.
The Ritz was placed back on the market back in June 2008 at a lower asking price of £1.2 million, down from its original £1.5 million price tag, due to "abortive negotiations" with an interested party. Around the same time, rumours were circulating that fashion retailer Primark were taking on the site, but these were denied by chartered surveyors Wright Silverwood.{{cite news |author1=Coventry Live |title=Gala Bingo building back on market in Nuneaton |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/gala-bingo-building-back-market-3095481 |access-date=19 October 2021 |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=29 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908234124/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/gala-bingo-building-back-market-3095481 |archive-date=8 September 2021 |location=Coventry |language=en-GB}}
In November 2009, it was sold privately to a 'mystery' investor, who was believed to be from Nuneaton, but the investor was not named. It failed to meet the £320,000 reserve price at auction.{{cite news |last1=Birch |first1=Mort |title=Ritzy shopping? |url=https://www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/News/Ritzy-shopping.htm |access-date=20 October 2021 |work=Nuneaton News |publisher=Staffordshire Newspapers Limited |date=18 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821215617/http://www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/News/Ritzy-shopping.htm |archive-date=21 August 2010 |location=Nuneaton, Warwickshire |language=en }}
In February 2010, a year later, "serious interest" was shown in the building by two national leisure operators and a national retailer, neither of which were bingo operators, as a covenant was made with Gala Bingo whilst they had the building which meant it could not be used as a bingo hall again after its closure.{{cite news |last1=Birch |first1=Mort |title=Ritzy shopping? |url=https://www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/News/Ritzy-shopping.htm |access-date=20 October 2021 |work=Nuneaton News |publisher=Staffordshire Newspapers Limited |date=18 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821215617/http://www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/News/Ritzy-shopping.htm |archive-date=21 August 2010 |location=Nuneaton, Warwickshire |language=en }}
In July 2013, flyposters were replaced with cinema-related art when local Nuneaton-based group, Art Alert, visited the venue as part of their 'Friends of the Ritz' project.{{cite web |title=Ritz gets Art Attacked! – better than fly posters and rude words! |url=https://nuneatonmemories.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/ritz-gets-art-attacked-better-than-fly-posters-and-rude-words/ |website=Nuneaton Memories |date=15 July 2013 |access-date=7 September 2021 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Art Alert Nuneaton - Past Events |url=http://artalertnuneaton.co.uk/photogallery.php?view=thumbnailList&category=7 |website=Art Alert Nuneaton |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604232250/http://artalertnuneaton.co.uk/photogallery.php?view=thumbnailList&category=7 |archive-date=4 June 2014 |language=en}} In 2013, film director Ken Loach who was born in Nuneaton, backed a £5m plan for the venue to be used again, though nothing came of the plans.{{cite web |title=Ken Loach backs Nuneaton Ritz cinema restoration plan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-24929432 |website=BBC News |access-date=7 September 2021 |language=en |date=18 November 2013 |quote=Mr Loach called for The Ritz to be brought "back to life". He said: "The Ritz showed some great films. Let's bring the cinema back to the town centre."}}{{cite web |last1=Goulden |first1=Barbara |title=Director Ken tells of his fears and hopes for the future |url=https://www.elementarywhatson.com/single-post/director-ken-tells-of-his-fears-and-hopes-for-the-future |website=elementarywhatson |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729115720/https://www.elementarywhatson.com/single-post/director-ken-tells-of-his-fears-and-hopes-for-the-future |archive-date=29 July 2021 |language=en |date=28 July 2021 |quote=But his pressing concern now is the hollowing-out of our towns and cities, especially places like Nuneaton where, years ago, he tried to save the art-deco Ritz cinema.}}
On 27 February 2019, the building was sold for £339,500.{{cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Claire |title=New owners of iconic Nuneaton building revealed |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/nuneaton-ritz-cinema-16099248 |website=Coventry Telegraph |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419135057/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/nuneaton-ritz-cinema-16099248 |archive-date=19 April 2019 |language=en |date=19 April 2019 |quote=It was bought for £339,500 on February 27 this year, after more than a decades' uncertainty surrounding what will happen to the former cinema and bingo hall.}}
Compton organ
The Ritz had a 'Compton organ' that was in an orchestra pit, which was played by organist Ken Stroud.{{cite web |title=Newsletter of the nuneaton local history group |url=https://essaydocs.org/newsletter-of-the-nuneaton-local-history-group.html#The_Organ____Ritz_Compton_Organist_%E2%80%93_Ken_Stroud |website=essaydocs.org |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907195620/https://essaydocs.org/newsletter-of-the-nuneaton-local-history-group.html#The_Organ____Ritz_Compton_Organist_%E2%80%93_Ken_Stroud |archive-date=7 September 2021 |language=en |date=19 May 2016 |quote=At the front of the stage was an orchestra pit decorated with banks of flowers, and in the centre of the pit a wonderful Compton organ was installed.}}{{cite web |title=Ken Stroud, July 1993 |url=https://www.thegordoncraigtheatrearchive.org.uk/performance/ken-stroud-july-1993 |website=The Gordon Craig Archive |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907200036/https://www.thegordoncraigtheatrearchive.org.uk/performance/ken-stroud-july-1993 |archive-date=7 September 2021 |language=en |quote=After war service Ken resumed his musical career as resident at the Ritz, Nuneaton and since that time he has appeared at numerous other venues.}} The organ remains in use at a church in Essex.{{cite web |title=The Ritz Compton Organ |url=http://www.nuneatonhistory.com/the-ritz-compton-organ.html |website=The Nuneaton and North Warwickshire Local and Family History Web Site |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126063349/http://www.nuneatonhistory.com/the-ritz-compton-organ.html |archive-date=26 January 2015 |language=en |quote=The former Compton Organ at the Ritz Cinema, Nuneaton is in everyday use at a church in Essex. Here it again [sic] to bring back memories of big shows at the Ritz.}}