Romford and Hornchurch cinemas captured in vintage photos

This week, we are going back in time to look at Romford and Hornchurch cinemas in all their former glory, from 1930 until the 1980s.

These venues have since become supermarkets, nightclubs and even a very familiar theatre.

Romford and Hornchurch cinemas captured in vintage photos

Hornchurch Cinema, Station Road - c.1930

A photograph of the Hornchurch cinema, dating from around 1930 (Image: Havering Libraries - Local Studies) The Hornchurch Cinema opened in 1913 but struggled financially especially during the First World War, leading to its closure in 1934, according to Havering Libraries.

After being left derelict and used for storage during the Second World War, it was bought by the local council in 1948 and transformed into Queen's Theatre, which opened in 1953 with a production of See How They Run.

The old Queen's Theatre photographed shortly after it closed in 1975 (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

The original theatre closed in 1975. A new Queen's Theatre was opened in Billet Lane, which won the London Theatre of the Year award in 2020.

Rex Cinema, Collier Row - c.1959

The Rex Cinema shortly after it closed in around 1959 (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies) In April 1939, the Rex Cinema opened in Collier Row, Romford, after initial plans were rejected in 1933.

The cinema, designed by Eric Norman Bailey, had early success, according to Havering Libraries, but eventually struggled financially - facing issues such as burglaries and changing tastes in films.

This photograph shows the Rex as a Tesco store c.1989/1990 (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies) By 1959, the Rex closed after screening the horror film Blood of the Vampire and was later converted into a Victor Value supermarket, which eventually became a Tesco in the mid-1960s.

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Towers Cinema, Hornchurch High Street - 1935

Towers Cinema pictured on opening night in August 1935 (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies) The Towers Cinema in Hornchurch opened on August 3, 1935, and Havering Libraries said it featured luxurious amenities such as seating for 2,000 people, air purification, a ballroom, and a car park for 1,000 cars.

It became part of the Odeon chain in 1950 and continued as a cinema until 1973, when it was converted into a Top Rank Club, Havering Libraries say.

The Towers sign outside Lidl (Image: Google Maps) Despite efforts to save the building, it was demolished in 2017 after serving as a bingo hall, and the original "Towers" signage was preserved as a public art installation outside the new Lidl supermarket that replaced it.

The Odeon, South Street (formerly The Havana Cinema) - 1982

The Odeon, South Street, pictured in April 1982 (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies) The Havana Cinema in Romford opened on January 29, 1936, with a seating capacity of 2,500, and was later sold to Eastern Cinemas in 1937 and the Odeon Theatres in 1943, being renamed the Odeon in 1949.

According to Havering Libraries, it hosted notable events over its history, including Romford's official Charter Day reception in 1937 and performances by major acts like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie during the 1950s and 60s.

The cinema later became Atik, which closed in February this year (Image: Google) After closing as a cinema in 1990, it was repurposed into nightclubs - first Time and Envy and later Atik - before the club shut early this year.