Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 7 December 2020

THE REASONING behind the scaffolding being put up at Nuneaton’s former Ritz cinema and bingo hall on Upper Abbey Street has been revealed.

The sight of scaffolding which surrounds the rear exterior of the former Ritz Cinema has been up for a few days now and has puzzled town-goers and passers-by who have walked past and left them scratching their heads as to what works could be taking place on the iconic listed building.

Today (7 December), the new owners of the town’s former cinema and bingo hall, have explained to The Hinckley Free Press that this is solely nothing more than simple renovations to the roof where it is being both fixed and repaired.

The new occupants behind the building have enlisted the help of contractors on the site to help fix the Grade II* listed building’s ongoing problems with water leaks that keep dripping through the roof and to carry out some further internal asbestos removal works.

Building history

The historic Grade II* listed building was designed by highly-regarded and well-renowned cinema architects, Verity and Beverley. The building first opened its doors in 23 July 1937 as a location for the Union Cinemas chain – ownership then swapped hands when the Union Cinema chain was purchased in October 1937 by ABC Cinemas.

Sometime after, the cinema then became a Ritz building by the 1960s and was used until its unfortunate closure back on 18 June 1984. After its 1984 closure, it was purchased and revamped inside by British bingo chain, Gala Bingo, who transformed the interior into a bingo hall, until it closed its doors in 2008.

Since mid-2019, new occupants have taken on the building, who are determined to tidy up the space and renovate it ready for a new future use.