Cinema memories shared as Savoy building sold

It would be a "great shame" if a former cinema building became flats, a film-maker has said.

The Savoy, a Wetherspoons' that used to be a cinema on Regent Street, in Swindon, has been sold to an undisclosed buyer and is due to shut on 8 November.

For many Swindonians, it is the place where a little bit of Hollywood was brought to Regent Street or the site of fond cinema memories.

Film-maker Martin Parry MBE said it would be "a great shame" if the Savoy became flats, while historian Graham Carter said he hoped two blue plaques at the site would be protected amid any future development.

A Wetherspoons spokesman said the buyer of the building was currently undisclosed.

He added: "Wetherspoon, does on occasion, sell some of its pubs. This is the situation here."

The Savoy, opened in 1937, could seat 1,770 people and was known as Swindon's first "super cinema".

Its first feature was comedy A Star Fell from Heaven and Captain January featuring child star Shirley Temple.

Parry, behind films such as Railway Town and projects like Swindon Viewpoint, recalled his visits to the Savoy after he moved to Wiltshire in 1980.

"It was a lovely cinema," he said. "It had a nice period ambience and it felt like there was a touch of glamour when you went in.

"That kind of cinema experience was something quite special and it is a shame that it is now quite hard to get."

The Savoy was later known as ABC and then by Cannon, when staff wore red and white uniforms.

Graham Carter, a Swindon historian, recalls seeing films such as Oliver and Robin Hood at the cinema.

He was also involved with the installation of the two blue plaques on the exterior wall that commemorate the Starr brothers, World War II pilots who were born and raised in Swindon.

"I am concerned about the blue plaques, they were put there by Swindon people to recognise the sacrifice of Swindon heroes," Carter said.

"Hopefully whoever has bought the building will respect that. I also think it is important to respect the architecture of the building, it's Art Deco and there are very few Art Deco buildings in Swindon.

"It has got a past and its part of our culture which needs to be preserved."

The Savoy closed in 1991 as a result of competition from out-of-town cinemas.

It reopened in 1996 as a Wetherspoons and now, 30 years on, will call final orders on Remembrance Sunday.

Responding to a BBC Wiltshire Facebook request for Swindonians to share their memories of the cinema many mentioned going on their birthdays as it was free entry.

Dave Rogers said he worked out it was "cheaper than admission cost" to simply buy a birthday card at Woolies [Woolworths] and get in that way.

Meanwhile Harpo Wol remembered dancing in the aisles during a midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Show, while Kelly Wilkie's first cinema visit was to watch The Little Mermaid at the Savoy.

Jo Wheatley said: "I remember the cinema was red and you had to walk down some steps to the sweets counter. But my biggest memory is being in the queue for Gremlins 2. I was eight. The film rating was a 12.

"Mum tried to shuffle me in behind a tall man so I could see it with her and my sister… only to be caught by one of the door staff."

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