Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 25 Aug 2021

Grade II Listed former Electric Palace and opera house, with pair of shops to front. 1926 for the Palmer brewing family. The front areas of seating are little altered and provide a rare example of a 1920s' cinema. It has full stage facilities with dressing rooms, curtains and clock for the opera the Palmers wanted to bring to Dorset. Designed by local architects Frederick Cooper & Sons, it opened on June 14th 1926 with Gloria Swanson in "Madame Sans Gene" and was named The New Electric Palace (The original 1912 Electric Palace was in Barrack Street). Local brewery sign writer George Biles designed and painted a collection of “art deco” style murals in the foyer, stairs and landing in 1936. During the 1940s the name was changed to Palace Cinema operated by Dorchester Cinema Company. It was then taken over by Miles Byrne group followed by Reeltime Entertainment in 1992 when improvements were made. It was operated almost continuously from 1926 but closed its doors in 1999 only to reopen in 2007. It has recently undergone extensive renovation improving the structural integrity of the building, additionally the cinema technology, stage equipment and other facilities have been brought up to date.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0