Royalty Cinema, Lake Road, Bowness-on-Windermere

The Royalty opened was opened as the Public Hall by H.L. Groves, Chairman of Windermere Council. in March 1927 and was built by public subscription for the people of Bowness and Windermere. It was designed by the Windermere firm of architects Walker Carter and Walker and was built by well-known local builders Pattinsons. As well as functioning as a cinema, theatre performances and dances were also held in earlier years.

According to entries in the Kinematograph Yearbook, the building originally had a seating capacity of 600 on two levels. This number was subsequently reduced to 560 seats in 1944 and 520 seats in 1950 hen it also provided occasional variety and repertory performances. The stalls area was flat with a sprung maple floor. Originally the stalls seats were arranged in sections of three and four, battened together so that they could be moved to the basement when the hall was being used for dancing. The auditorium was well appointed with a barrel-vaulted ceiling. A 30 feet wide proscenium with a stage depth of 23 or 24 feet and nine dressing rooms were included from the outset.  However, there was no fly tower and backcloths had to be rolled. However, cinema seemed to be the main attraction.  The first projection room was equipped with Erneman projectors that showed the silent films. The Yearbooks of 1928 and 1929 also make reference to a separate dance hall.

About 1930 the building was renamed the Royalty, following the introduction od sound and the transfer of the lease to Windermere and Ambleside Cinemas Ltd, of Liverpool, who also managed the Windermere Cinema, the Supreme, Old Colwyn and previously the Assembly Rooms, Ambleside. The managing director, Leonard H Clegg, had been a Liverpool architect and had designed the Lighthouse Pavilion, Hoylake.

In 1995 Charles Molrris, the then operator, added a 100-seat cinema in the disused stage area and in 1996 a further auditorium with a seating capacity of 65 was formed out of the balcony foyer. All boasting air conditioning. The cinema complex closed in 2024 when Morris retired but was re-opened in 2025.

Reference    Builder 18 December 1925 page 898 – contracts
Reference    Kinematograph Yearbooks 1928, 1929, 1931, 1935, 1939, 1944, 1950.
Reference    Bills of Quantities dated December 1925 advertised on e-bay 

[1] + 10pp., crown 8vo. Held together with a metal stud, and placed in a brown card folder, with typed title on front cover. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. Professionally presented, with the text typed out in columns and the sums and running totals written out in manuscript. An estimate, with costings for a large number of itemised elements, ranging from 'temporary lavatory accommodation for the workmen for all trades' to 'the removal of trees or shrubs as required, and grub up the roots - The timber will belong to the Contractor - and he must here allow for same'.

Last  updated 2 May 2025