20 A/B Townhead, former Regal Cinema

The building at 20 A/B Townhead in Auchterarder High Street is a purpose-built former cinema, constructed between 1925 and 1926 in the Art Deco style. The design was by Charles T. Ewing of Crieff.

The building's symmetrical front elevation is a two-storey, three-bay block, with integrated glass-fronted shopfronts at ground floor level. The central bay features a pair of two-leaf timber doors with glazed panels. Recessed porch entrances with canted glazing are provided to either side of the main entrance. Above, the upper level has a large multi-paned window flanked by two further windows in the outer bays. Four tall sandstone pilaster columns with squared capstones extend above the roofline, dividing the bays and adding vertical emphasis. Horizontal signage boards are positioned between the ground and first floors, and a cornice band runs along the roofline. The auditorium hall is located to the rear and is constructed of rendered brick, with a pitched steel roof covered in grey slate.

The interior, observed in 2019, includes a rectangular-plan vestibule with a pair of two-leaf timber doors leading to a grand foyer. The foyer has a decorative stair with a moulded timber handrail and cast-iron bannisters featuring a geometric design. Moulded plasterwork adorns the walls and ceiling of the foyer and upper gallery. The auditorium is notable for its distinctive curved ceiling crafted from decorative pressed tin panels. A cantilevered balcony is positioned at the rear of the hall, with projector windows incorporated into the rear wall. Above the former screen is a scrolled cartouche decoration, and a rectangular musicians’ pit is located below it. A rectangular sound chamber was added in 1941 within the screen area. The walls incorporate plaster-coated brick pilasters with capital detailing, and decorative shell light sconces, possibly introduced during a 1930s or 1940s refurbishment.

A former tearoom on the first floor retains some moulded pilasters on the rear wall. A built-in range is present in the separate kitchen area. The projection room has been removed, creating a landing area at the top of the main stair. One shop has a secondary staircase providing access to the first-floor tearoom, while the other shop features a built-in wall safe.