Slough Cinemas

Slough’s first cinema
Slough’s first cinema was in a hall behind the brown Hotel. It was opened in 1910 by Herbert Wilson, the landlord. Later he built a proper cinema in the High Street, the Palace, opened in 1921; this was renamed the Century in 1949; it was demolished in 1959. There was another Picture Hall from 1911-14 at 251 High St.

The Empire Cinema
The Empire Cinema Palace in Chalvey Rd East, opened in 1912 in a chapel building dating from 1835, the cinema closed before the end of WW1 but the building remains today.
The two largest modern cinemas in Slough were the Adelphi and the Granada. The Adelphi, in Bath Rd, opened in 1930. In addition to a large auditorium, it had a wide stage for shows and a ball room. It remains today a bingo club.

The Granada
The Granada , Windsor Rd, opened in 1938, was lavishly decorated and had a balcony restaurant. In the pavement outside there were handprints and signatures of famous stars set in concrete. The building has now been demolished but the signed stars have been preserved at Wexham Nurseries. Other Slough cinemas included the Ambassador, Farnham Rd (opened in 1936) and the Commodore, Cippenham (1938).

Multiplex comes to slough
A multiplex cinema was included in the Fulcrum Leisure Centre built in the 70’s. Originally the Maybox, the cinema has been run by several different organisations since, currently Cinema World.

Reference: Maxwell Fraser, ‘The History of Slough’
Slough Corporation, 1980

Simon Hill, April 2006