The Picture Playhouse, 36-38 Western Road

The Picture Playhouse, 36-38 Western Road
LL ref:	84
Start date:	8 July 1921
Architect:	Peter Dulvey Stonham
Builder:	unknown
Original use:	Cinema
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The Picture Playhouse was opened by the Duchess of Norfolk on 8th July 1921 (see photo below) with 800 seats. It was built adjacent to the Cinema de Luxe and was operated by Randolph E. Richards (the Cinema de Luxe was closed in February 1924 and became a garage and then printworks of the Bexhill Observer, it now forms part of the Weatherspoons pub).

In 1966, it was taken over by the Classic Cinemas chain and was re-named Classic Cinema. Upon the retirement of Classic Cinemas chairman Eric Rhodes, he was ‘given’ the Classic Cinema to operate, and he re-named it Curzon Picture Playhouse. The building was twinned, with a bingo hall in the former stalls area and a small 300 seat cinema in the former circle. It was closed in June 1988. The ground floor then became a shop and antiques market with a cinema on the upper floor.

The theatre was last operated as the Redstack Playhouse which hosted films and live entertainment. The Redstack Playhouse closed in 2008. There were hopes in the local community that it could be re-opened by the Bexhill Community Playhouse group, but eventually the empty building was purchased by the J.D. Wetherspoon chain of pubs in 2014.

Planning permission for conversion into a pub was granted in 2015 and it opened as the Picture Playhouse pub in 2017. It has an imposing façade – its entrance bay canted forward with set-back bays either side – richly decorated with classical motifs such as plaster swags and rusticated piers, leaded light windows.

Gallery

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  Bar
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  Decoration
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  Dining
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  WC
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  Plaque
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  Redstack Playhouse 2014
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  Playhouse Cinema 1938
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  Picture Playhouse 1921