Regal Cinema, 7 Curran Road, Larne, Co Antrim, BT40 1BS

The Regal Cinema, located at 7 Curran Road, Larne, is a 1930s cinema designed by Belfast-based architect John McBride Neill, who was a leading specialist in his field. Constructed in 1935 and opened in March 1937, the building was originally clad in faience and featured distinctive characteristics such as porthole windows and horizontal glazing bars to the large rectangular windows and doors. However, the cinema has undergone significant alterations. The faience cladding is now painted over, the original porthole windows have been covered with square panels, and the original glazed doors have been replaced with plate glass within new frames. The interior was also remodelled and subdivided in 1993, resulting in the loss of original features. The building is situated within the built-up area of the town, facing a main road and set back slightly, flanked by two-storey gabled houses. Further information about John McBride Neill can be found in “The Big Feature,” by P. Larmour, published in Perspective (The Journal of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects) in 1997. The building is currently used as an entertainment building and remains in private ownership.