History
This cinema opened as the Empire Theatre in 1913, designed by Chadwick and Watson of Leeds.
It was altered and adapted as a full-time cinema in 1921, known as the Empire Super Kinema. It was acquired by Associated British Cinemas (ABC) in 1929, and they held onto it for ten years before selling it to an independent operator. By this time, the cinema had 1,225 seats across two balconies. It was sold to the Essoldo chain in 1954 and renamed Essoldo the following year.
Passing to Classic Cinemas in 1972, the building was modernized in 1974, with the stalls retained for a 510-seat cinema. A second screen was added in 1978, converting the former gallery (top balcony) into a 314-seat auditorium, while Screen 1 was reduced to 294 seats. Operated last by the Cannon Group, it was renamed Cannon in May 1988 but closed on 22 February 1990. Afterward, the building was split into a nightclub and a snooker club.
Since around 2007, the theatre was converted and has primarily operated as a nightclub. However, it closed in 2024 and has since been bought and restored, with much of its former glory revealed. This includes uncovering original tile and mosaic work, bringing a touch of its historic charm back to life. Future plans are to transform the venue into a live music venue, maintaining as much of its surviving original features as possible.
