Regent Cinema

The Regent Cinema is a former cinema and bingo hall in Deal, Kent, England. It was originally built in 1928 as a simple pavilion for musical concerts but this proved unprofitable and in 1933 it was converted into a cinema, with an Art Deco-style entrance. The cinema closed in 1963 and was briefly used as a wrestling venue before being converted into a bingo hall. The bingo hall closed in 2009 and the site has lain derelict since then. The Regent was sold to developers by Dover District Council in 2011. It was sold at below market value on the understanding that it would be restored as a cinema for the use by local people. Initial plans, presented by the new owners in 2014, were unpopular owing to a residential element. The site lay dormant for a period and a campaign group, Reopen the Regent, formed to encourage its restoration. The group successfully campaigned to have the site designated an asset of community value. The owners submitted new plans for the site in 2019, including a two-screen cinema. Works did not proceed, with the owners blaming the COVID-19 pandemic and planning permission has since expired.