Building Name

Trocadero Cinema, Uppingham Road, Humbestone, Leicester

Date
1931
Street
Uppingham Road
District/Town
Humberstone, Leicester
County/Country
Leichestershire, England
Client
Bert W Cole
Work
New build
Status
Demolished after fire
Contractor
Bert W Cole

HUMBERSTONE OPENING FIXED - October 5th is the date fixed for the opening of the palatial new cinema at Humberstone. the construction of which has been undertaken by Bert W. Cole. a local builder. The theatre is to have a seating capacity of around 2,000, and the scheme also includes a magnificent ballroom and café. The plans were prepared by Herbert Langham, FRIBA, of Manchester. [Bioscope 26 August 1931 page xii]

Built on a three-acre site at the junction of  Scraptoft Lane and Uppingham Road, with a prominent octagonal shaped corner entrance set back from the road junction. Inside the auditorium, the decorative scheme resembled a sunset effect. Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels, and the proscenium was 50 feet wide, with a fully equipped stage and four dressing rooms. The cinema also contained a 400-capacity ballroom and a cafe, and there was an open-air swimming pool at the rear, known as the Humberstone Lido, plus a 500 capacity car-park. The building was located in a landscaped Alpine garden setting.  In 1938, it was taken over by the Associated British Cinemas (ABC) chain.

The Trocadero Cinema closed on 16 March 1963 and converted into the Alpha bingo club. The building was badly damaged by a fire on 8 September 1967 and demolished shortly afterwards.

Reference    The Bioscope 26 August 1931 page xii
Reference    Cinema Treasures website
Reference    Arthur Lloyd website, with images