BOURNEMOUTH’S two cinemas have been sold to developers, signalling the end of film-going on Westover Road after almost 90 years.

Odeon Cinemas – which owns both the Odeon and ABC sites – intends to move in 2017 to the West Central leisure complex being built at nearby Exeter Road.

The Odeon has been sold for £3.8million to Libra Homes of Bournemouth.

Land Registry documents do not yet reveal details of the ABC deal, but Odeon Cinemas has confirmed it too has been sold.

The main screens at the Odeon and ABC are thought to be the biggest surviving in the south outside London.

Central ward councillor Bob Chapman said: “I, together with many people in Bournemouth, will be very sad to see the present Odeon go but I think over the years the original interior has been altered to such an extent that there’s very little left other than the façade on Westover Road.”

Any move to convert the building for other uses would need planning permission. The building is locally listed, restricting a developer's options for altering it.

Bournemouth council leader Cllr John Beesley said the council had decided against bidding to buy the cinemas.

“I’m not sure that anybody would be able to put together a business case to retain those two buildings in the form that they currently are for cinema use,” he said.

“They’re multi-screen, they’re in need of some investment and would be in direct competition with the multi-screen cinemas that are being constructed by Licet and L&G (at Exeter Road).”

He said the council had put in place the Town Centre Area Action Plan which would give it more control over “inappropriate uses” in Westover Road.

“I would hope and expect that both front elevations would be saved so as to retain the art deco facade which is currently clad, as well as the Odeon elevation facing the Pavilion,” he said.

Ken Mantock, chairman of Bournemouth Civic Society, queried the suitability of the Odeon for residential use.

“It’s a huge shame that there will be no cinemas there if the operators have sold it on to a residential developer,” he added.

A statement from Odeon Cinemas said: "We love being part of the community in Bournemouth, and are totally committed to offering our guests a great experience in our cinemas here.

“We have very exciting plans for the new cinema in Exeter Road, which we'll open in 2017. The existing sites in Westover Road have been sold, but will remain open until the big move in a couple of years."

Libra Homes declined to comment.

WHEN the Odeon opened as the Regent in 1929, it was only the second purpose-built ‘super cinema’ in Britain, with a huge auditorium seating 2,300.

It became the Gaumont in 1949 and was later used for live shows, including a week of the Beatles in 1963.

It was converted to two auditoriums in 1969, with Gaumont 1 boasting a 75ft curved Cinerama screen.
Police had to marshal the queues when Star Wars opened on both screens at once in February 1978.

Rebranded the Odeon in 1986, the cinema was converted into a five-screen multiplex in 1989, with a sixth screen added in 1995.

The ABC opened in 1937 as the Westover Super Cinema, just as the neighbouring Westover Palace Cinema closed.

It became the ABC in 1958 and was converted into a twin-screen cinema in 1970, with a third screen added in 1973. It was called the Canon and the MGM before returning to the ABC fold in 1996. 

It was bought by the Odeon chain in 2000 and is the last cinema bearing the ABC name.