The Regent Centre

The Regent opened on Boxing Day 1931 as the town’s cinema. The Regent retained this important role in the life of the Community for over forty years until July 1973, when it was closed as a cinema and then re-opened as the Mecca Social and Bingo Club. The final cry of ‘house’ was sounded in February 1982, only to re-open in June 1983 as an Arts Centre.

Today, the Regent Centre is one of the finest examples of an early 1930s cinema to survive in Britain. Its 450 seats are regularly filled for events as diverse as the latest film releases to professional touring theatre, jazz, big band, ballet, opera and celebrity star shows. The Regent is also the home venue for many local amateur companies, who regularly stage productions at the Centre.