The Plaza Super Cinema and Variety Theatre in Stockport

A look at The Plaza Super Cinema and Variety Theatre in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

The Plaza opened in 1932.

It has had closures over the years, but has been open fully since 2009 and is still going strong.

It's well worth a visit and there are regular theatre shows, pantos, comedy performances and more.

We've also watched some excellent new and classic films on the big screen there.

To watch a film or show there is a superb experience from start to finish - with much more to it than your average multiplex.

The Plaza's original Compton theatre organ is still in situ, and rises out of the floor before performances and during intervals.

The Compton organ being played before a showing of Jaws at The Plaza in July 2024

Find out more on The Plaza website.

Art Deco in Lichfield, Staffordshire

A look at The former Regal Cinema in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

The Regal Cinema opened on Tamworth Street in Lichfield in 1932. It closed in 1972, later becoming a Kwik Save supermarket.

The building now consists of residential apartments and retail units.

Art Deco - The Majestic Reel Cinema in Bridgnorth, Shropshire

A look at an Art Deco cinema in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

The Majestic in Bridgnorth, Shropshire opened in 1937.

The Majestic in 2022

Find out more on the Reel Cinema website.

Art Deco - The Empire Theatre in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire

A look at the Art Deco Empire Theatre in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

The Empire in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire opened in 1932.

The Empire in 2021

It was most recently used as a bingo hall.

Art Deco - The Picturedrome in Macclesfield, Cheshire

A look at an Art Deco building in Macclesfield, Cheshire.

The Picturedrome in Macclesfield, Cheshire opened in 1911.

The Picturedrome in Macclesfield in 2016

It is now home to the Picturedrome Macclesfield food hall.

Art Deco - The Odeon cinema in Worcester

A look at the Odeon cinema in Worcester, Worcestershire.

The Odeon cinema in Worcester was built in the Art Deco style and opened in 1935.

Check out the Odeon website for more information.

The former Woolworths in Selby

Spotting a Woolworth ghost sign in Selby, North Yorkshire.

We noticed the remains of a Woolworth sign on the former store on Gowthorpe in Selby while having a wander through the town.

The H of the original WOOLWORTH sign above one of the doors

Before its closure in 2009 the shop had been a Woolworths Local store.

Woolworth became Woolworths in 1984

It's now a Yorkshire Trading Company shop.

Related blog posts:

• Woolworths
• Ghost signs
• Lost shops
• Retail
• Urbex
• Selby

The Regal Cinema in Kettering, Northamptonshire

This Art Deco building in Kettering, Northamptonshire opened as The Regal Cinema in December 1936.

It had been a bingo club since 1975, most recently as a Gala Bingo. It closed in 2018.

Art Deco - The Plaza in Port Talbot, Wales

This was the Plaza in Port Talbot, Wales in May 2019.

It was built in 1939 and opened in April 1940.

Thankfully the building was reopened as The New Plaza and retained the Modern & Art Deco influenced frontage.

Check it out on The New Plaza website.

Art Deco - The former Odeon Cinema in Chorley, Lancashire.

A look at the former Odeon Cinema in Chorley, Lancashire.

The Art Deco building opened in February 1938.

This was how it looked in August 2020 when it had most recently been a Buzz Bingo.

The business (and building) never re-opened after the Coronavirus pandemic.

Sadly the building was demolished and there is now a car park where it once stood.

New Art Deco style architecture in Hunstanton

Edgewater Apartments in Hunstanton, Norfolk have been created in a nice Art Deco style.

We're big fans of Art Deco style, design and architecture, so it was nice to see the new building on the seafront while visiting Sunny Hunny.

Art Deco - The Old Savoy in Northampton

A look at The Old Savoy in Northampton, Northamptonshire.

It opened in 1936.

Check out The Old Savoy website for more information.

Stafford Cinema on Newport Road

A look at Stafford Cinema.

Stafford Cinema on Newport Road in Stafford, Staffordshire opened as an Odeon in 1936 and closed in 2021.

This is how the Art Deco building looked in November 2024.

Art Deco former cinema in Worthing, West Sussex

A look at an Art Deco building in Worthing, West Sussex.

This Art Deco building in Worthing opened as The Plaza in 1933 and was a theatre and cinema.

Buzz Bingo permanently closed in 2025.

The building had been a bingo hall since the 1970s.

The Oasis Beach Pool Pyramid in Bedford

Did you know there's a pyramid in Bedford?

I didn't until fairly recently! Crazy really as we lived in Bedfordshire for many years, and visited Bedford quite often.

A look at the Oasis Beach Pool Pyramid in Bedford.

The Oasis Beach Pool in Bedford opened in 1991. The site is currently up for sale with Bedford Borough Council offering a long leasehold basis for leisure use, with all activities at the venue ceasing from the 3rd November 2025.

Not one but two pyramids there.

There are actually two pyramids on the site, with a smaller second pyramid home to Camrider Motorcycle Training Bedford.

If you look a little further between the two pyramids you can see the Tesco Extra store is also topped with a pyramid!

More lesser-known UK pyramids.

Check out this thread on Twitter/X from the Twentieth Century Society for more examples of lesser-known pyramids in the UK.

Pyramid hunting.

I enjoy seeing and discovering different and interesting examples of architecture. And living in Stockport we have a myriad of intriguing buildings. Most notable of which is possibly the Stockport Pyramid! It's a striking sight and clearly seen by thousands of people passing by on the M60 and railway lines each day. The Stockport Pyramid is 37m tall. And, by some reckonings, is the 16th tallest pyramid in the world!

How tall is the Bedford Pyramid?

I'd be interested in finding out how tall the Oasis Beach Pool Pyramid in Bedford is, and how it compares in size to the Stockport Pyramid.

Links:

• Bedford Borough Council
• Oasis Beach Pool at Better Leisure
• Camrider Motorcycle Training Bedford

Related blog posts:

• Pyramid
• Pyramids
• Bedford
• Architecture

The Watford Pyramid

A look at the pyramid in Watford town centre.

Watford Pyramid was built in 1985 and was designed by Arthurell and Kirkland Architects to be home to a Blockbuster Video store!

The front of the pyramid (or should that be pyramids?)

The shop - located at 161-165 High Street, Watford - is now home to a Cotswold Outdoor store.

A view from the side

More lesser-known UK pyramids.

Check out this thread on Twitter/X from the Twentieth Century Society for more examples of lesser-known pyramids in the UK.

The other side of the pyramid

Pyramid hunting.

I enjoy seeing and discovering different and interesting examples of architecture. And living in Stockport we have a myriad of intriguing buildings. Most notable of which is possibly the Stockport Pyramid! It's a striking sight and clearly seen by thousands of people passing by on the M60 and railway lines each day.

The rear of the Watford pyramid

The Watford Pyramid was doubly interesting to me as it was a) a pyramid, and b) a former Blockbuster Video store - another area of study of mine.

How tall is the Watford Pyramid?

I'd be interested in finding out how tall the Watford Pyramid is, and how it compares in size to the Stockport Pyramid?

Links:

• Arthurell and Kirkland Architects
• Cotswold Outdoor Watford
• Twentieth Century Society

Related blog posts:

• Pyramid
• Pyramids
• Watford
• Architecture
• Blockbuster Video