This week marks the 70th anniversary of Gloucester’s iconic Regal cinema, now transformed into a Wetherspoons pub in King’s Square. To commemorate the occasion, a special event will be held in the main auditorium on Thursday, March 19, from noon to 2pm.
Special guest Pamela Wright Brogan, who was just 19 when The Regal first opened on March 19, 1956, will attend the celebration. She was also one of twelve contestants in the Gloucester Journal’s Charm Girl contest held at the venue that very evening.
Ross Campbell, historian and author of two books on The Regal’s rich legacy, helped organize the event. He reflects, “For 70 years, well actually 87 years counting from its earliest structure, The Regal has been at the heart of Gloucester’s entertainment scene. From legendary performances by Tommy Steele and The Beatles, to its rescue from demolition by what locals affectionately call ‘Spoons’—The Regal is a palace of dreams. Here’s to The Regal. Now and Forever!”
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The journey of The Regal began in 1939, initially planned for Three Cocks Lane but ultimately constructed on St Aldate Street in the lavish Art Deco style. Designed by William Riddell Glen, architect for Associated British Cinemas (ABC), the project was delayed by World War II and only resumed in 1955. The design was updated by W R Farrow, resulting in a stunning Bath stone façade and elegant interiors reminiscent of an ocean liner experience.
On its grand opening day, March 19, 1956, the mayor of Gloucester, Alderman E J Langdon, officiated the ribbon-cutting, with actress Janette Scott starring in the premiere film “Now and Forever.” The cinema boasted a massive 40-foot-wide screen, dual projectors, and a state-of-the-art sound system, seating over 1,400 guests combined in the ground floor auditorium and upstairs circle.
The Regal became a hub for not just films but live entertainment. Stars like Danny La Rue, Tommy Steele, Lonnie Donegan, Norman Wisdom, Max Bygraves, Diana Dors, Tony Hancock, and notably The Beatles, who performed their only Gloucester gig there in 1963, thrilled the audiences.
Over time, The Regal evolved with the opening of a Wimpy Bar showcasing Americana style, and a 1974 renovation that divided the cinema into three smaller screens. In 1987 it changed ownership and was renamed Cannon until Wetherspoons purchased the building in 1995. During refurbishment, a human jawbone was uncovered beneath the foundations, hinting at the site’s ancient history.
Despite early plans by Wetherspoons to rename the pub, campaign efforts from local journalist Hugh Worsnip ensured The Regal’s name was preserved—a tribute to Gloucester’s cherished entertainment landmark that lives on.