Chester Cinemas

29/08/2026

Cannon Multiplex Cinema, Chester. Typical in design of an early nineties build. It’s largest screen held 366 seats, the smallest 210 seats. It’s high wall to wall screens adopted a peculiar and compromised aspect ratio, with little difference in width between flat (wide screen) and cinemascope. Seating was attached to a flat, non~raked floor, giving many customers a pain in the neck.
Cineworld closed on 10th October 2013. The building was demolished to make way for a supermarket.
Our website link for more pictures and details>> https://www.chestercinemas.co.uk/cinemas/cineworld/

29/08/2026

Occasional concerts took place at the Park Cinema. For these live events a temporary stage was constructed over the front stall seats using oil drums, with props and curtaining borrowed from the Royalty Theatre.
Our website link to The Park Cinema>> https://www.chestercinemas.co.uk/cinemas/park/

28/08/2026

Vin Dunning had previously worked at the Gaumont before moving across to the Music Hall as second projectionist. There he had to adjust to the confines of a very small projection room, because of this he had contemplated returning to the Gaumont, but remained at the Music Hall.
He was gifted with skills of the cinematography business, together with the necessary expertise in the operation and maintenance of precision machinery. He was well versed in all aspects of photography which led to his career change, becoming manager at Will R Rose photographic shop in Bridge Street. With all his knowledge of traditional cinema projection, he embraced the new digital cinema technology with an ease of understanding that is exceptional for his generation. He remained interested, and positive with his progressive thinking towards today’s cinema business, and could converse at all levels of technical understanding. Vin was an amiable, mild mannered man. A well respected friend and colleague to many Chester cinema employees, always keeping in touch with his former associates.
Sadly Vin Dunning is no longer with us, but it was more that a pleasure to have had the good fortune of knowing him.

24/08/2026

Opening day of Chester's Odeon Cinema, Saturday 3rd October 1936. History with photographs on our website>> https://www.chestercinemas.co.uk/cinemas/odeon/

24/08/2026

The magnificent plaster-work of the ceiling fresh air grills together with the sweeping scrolls that contained the cove lighting. The proscenium splay wall’s vertically fluted panel, flanked with slim pillars that also contained concealed lighting in three circuits for colour change, throwing light onto the fluted panel. The distinctive ‘S’ panels can also be seen in this image. History with photographs on our website>> https://www.chestercinemas.co.uk/cinemas/abc-regal/

27/06/2026

The vibrant canopy of Chester Odeon, dressed for the latest Bond feature. c 1987

21/06/2026

21/06/2026

Centre spot on the steps- the menu board for the Oak Restaurant. With no canopy readograph, only the poster display boards informed customers as to what was showing at Chester's Gaumont. c late 1950s

20/06/2026

Chester Odeon's promotion with their brilliant Disney Summer Parade through the city streets in the early 1980s.

20/06/2026

The tree that marks the spot where the Tatler (Classic) Cinema once stood on Foregate Street, Chester. Plans for the C&A store front had to provide space for the tree that still stands there in front of the present owners, Primark.