The Dome Cinema

The Dome Cinema

Cinema and bingo hall, originally a multi-purpose kursaal. Built in 1911 by Theophilus Arthur Allen for Carl Adolf Seebold at a cost of £4,000. Remodelled in 1921 by R Kirksby Bowes at a cost of £8,000. The building is constructed of brick, stuccoed at the front and pebble-dashed elsewhere, with a dome supported by steel posts. The roof to the front range is plain tile; the rear ranges are Welsh slate with crested ridge tiles, though part of these have been removed. The entrance elevation was restored in 1995.

The building comprises two main sections. The front range is two storeys tall with five bays. The ground floor projects and contains shops flanking an entrance arcade with a bowed entry supported by columns and originally fitted with gates. The arcade features mid-19th-century shop fronts, a patterned terrazzo floor incorporating the builder's name plate, and a glazed green tile dado. Above the ground floor is compartmental ceiling with decorative plasterwork. The first floor has round-arched windows with glazing bars set between pilasters and linked by impost string. The tower features angle pilasters, a platt band, round-arched six-pane windows, an octagonal dome and cupola. The right return contains a two-storey section with round-arched windows on the ground floor with radial glazing bars to fanlights and small-pane casements, and three-light small-pane casement windows to the first floor; a one-storey section has similar windows, some louvred, with two ridge louvres. The left return is similar but lacks the round-arched windows.

The original cinema of 1911 lies above and behind the front range, later serving as a ballroom and restaurant and now as a bingo hall. The former billiard room is housed in the dome over the front. Behind this extends the Coronation Hall, a thirteen-bay deep structure originally used principally as a roller skating rink, concert hall and ballroom, and in continuous use as a cinema since 1921.

The interior survives remarkably complete. The entrance arcade has glazed double doors on the left side with small panes originally giving access to the first floor. The entrance foyer, originally an open-air theatre with small balcony and stage set under a semi-dome, underwent a complete and lavish remodelling in 1921. This includes a main entrance with arched doorway and side lights, glazed doors with central roundels and glazing bars. Similar doors serve the auditorium and are set in pine partitioning separating the former refreshment room on the left and cloakroom on the right, with small-pane glazing and coloured glass lettering over doors. The main foyer is dominated by a large polygonal paybox of 1921, a rare feature, with a separate smaller kiosk in a side passage serving cheap seats in the front stalls. All areas feature patterned cornices and ceilings. Enriched window architraves, light roundels, brass bannistered stairs lead to doorways into the main auditorium, set between etched side mirrors with cameos, swags and sconces.

The main auditorium retains the original balcony to the sides with decorative metal balustrade. The original stage with some decoration survives behind a later proscenium, itself obscured behind a wide screen installed in 1955 by Goldsmith and Pennells, architects. Viewing boxes at the rear now serve as projector and rewind rooms, richly decorated with cupids and hearts. The decorative ceiling dates from 1921 and includes raised semi-domes masking the original ventilation system. The shallow raked floor and fixed seating were installed in 1921, with some original seats remaining in their original positions.

The first floor bingo hall opened as a cinema in October 1911 and became a ballroom in 1921. It retains a decorative ceiling, partly concealed, and light bosses. The former restaurant overlooking the sea has a more decorative compartmented ceiling and columns.

The Dome is of considerable interest as a rare surviving kursaal or multi-purpose hall, with the original plan of a roller skating rink in the main hall. All decoration save for the balcony front dates from the conversion of this hall to a cinema in 1921 and is both remarkably elaborate and exceptionally complete. The Dome ranks among the five best early cinemas to survive in England.