IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Mersey Square, STOCKPORT, SK1 1SP

Originally a cinema for about 30 years, then a bingo hall for a further 30 years. It closed in 1998, and moves to protect renovate and re-open it began in 2000. Built into a rock-face, they excavated 10,000 tons of rock to a depth of 42 feet. The stage area is below ground. It opened on 7th October 1932, and was designed by architect W. Thornley, based on plans by Drury and Gomersall.

Rather quiet on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.

A night-time view of the Grade II* listed https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101257697-plaza-cinema-brinnington-and-central-ward & https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1257697 cinema, which was opened in the 1930s. It was built in a lavish Art-Deco style, taking many cues from the formative 1925 Paris Exhibition, and was listed in 1997 as "an exceptionally complete example of a 1930s 'super' cinema, which survives little altered and retains its Compton organ". Other photos on Geograph such as Image & Image record that there was a substantial programme of restoration in 2009 or so, prior to its reopening at the end of that year.

The stalls and stage area of the recently-restored, Grade II* listed, Stockport Plaza. The listing mentions its Compton organ, which can just be seen in front of the stage.

Looking across Mersey Square, towards the towering, faience-tiled façade of the Plaza Cinema, an Art-Deco styled building which opened in 1932 as "The Plaza Super Cinema and Variety Theatre"; construction was particularly difficult as the site involved cutting into the sandstone cliff at the rear from which 10000 tons of rock had to be excavated to a depth of 42 feet. Having operated mostly as a cinema from its opening in 1932, the Plaza became a Mecca Bingo Hall in 1967 and operated as such until its closure in 1998. By that time, it had been Grade II* listed by English Heritage (Historic England List Entry Number: 1257697 http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1257697&resourceID=5 Heritage Gateway); it was by then the last remaining building the Borough of Stockport still capable of full-scale theatre and entertainment use. Thankfully, it has now been restored as a cinema and theatre, showing classic films and staging live shows (http://stockportplaza.co.uk/heritage-restoration/ The Plaza).

The theatre in Mersey Square reopened at the end of 2009 following extensive restoration.

A view of the restored auditorium and stage (complete with working Compton organ) from the back of the stalls.

In the foreground is the free shuttle bus around town which has just left the bus station and is heading towards St Petersgate. In the background is the Stockport Plaza. Behind the sheets it is undergoing restoration and due to re-open in December 2009. http://www.stockportplaza.co.uk/

Public steps to the west side of the Plaza Theatre Image affording an important pedestrian route between Mersey Square and St Peter's Square – these monumental steps were constructed in reinforced concrete to replicate Portland stone by the Corporation prior to the construction of the Plaza Cinema. The Plaza steps are listed Grade II in their own right.