Top Rank Club

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 6 December 2024 to amend the architect's name and text reformated to display correctly on NHLE.

SP 09 NE 1/1

Kingstanding B44 KINGS ROAD Top Rank Club

10.10.80

II Formerly the Odeon Cinema. 1935 by J Cecil Clavering and Robert Bullivant of Harry Weedon and Partners for Oscar Deutsch and the Odeon group of companies. Freestanding on a prominent corner site and the focal point of a contemporary housing development, the cinema has the distinguishing style established by Weedon for the Odeon chain, although each design is nevertheless individual. Brick main body with the characteristic feature of buff and polished black faience dressing to the nearly fall width frontpiece of the broad elevation. A symmetrical composition dominated by an axial tower formed of three faience fins rising above the brick stepped parapet of the main body. Dominant of theme of horizontal banding continued in faience stops round the subtely curved double returns (from the frontpiece and again on the corners, the former clasped by strip window panels) across the otherwise plain but slightly stepped back side elevations. A bowed flight of steps leads ones the shallow bow of tile foyer entries with faience clad columns (the central ones now unfortunately reclad in mosaic) rising through the cantilevered canopy to the broad similarly bowed sign board.

Listing NGR: SP0785595088