Basic Site Details Name: | Royal Hotel and cinema | City or county: | Edinburgh | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | Demolished | Grid ref: | | Notes: | The 1876 reconstruction for Don R MacGregor was carried out in phases; it ended in claim and counter claim lawsuits.
Cost of J M Henry alterations and additions: £18,000.
Proposals for a cinema at the rear of the hotel were announced late in 1912. 'A new picture house is about to be built in Princes Street Edinburgh, on part of the site of the Royal Hotel. The contemplated outlay on building operations is over £25,000.' [Building News 20 December 1912 p887].
EDINBURGH - Warrant was granted in the Edinburgh Dean of Guild Court last week to the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres Limited for alterations at 55 Princess Street and to erect new buildings behind for a picture house. White marble will be a feature of the entrance hall, and statuary and other architectural ornaments will form part of the interior decoration. The new premises will have an effective elevation to Princes Street; but the premises to be used for the purpose of the picture house proper will be entirely to the rear of the hotel. The hotel will continue to occupy, as at present, the whole building with its frontage to Princes Street, but one of the shops - No 55 - has been acquired to make an entrance to the hall. It is estimated that the cost of the new erection will be about £30,000. The hall will accommodate nearly 1,000 persons and tea rooms on two storeys will be provided. Messrs Atkinson and Alexander, London and Mr R M Cameron DL are acting as joint architects and the work is to be begun immediately. [Building News 17 January 1913 p107]
The New Picture House, opened on Tuesday 21st October 1913 with seating for 850. The cinema auditorium ran parallel to Princess street at the rear of the hotel and was approached by a long corridor from the street. Above the auditorium were three floors of bedrooms and stores associated with the hotel. It closed on Saturday 26th May 1951, and was sold and demolished, along with the hotel, for a Marks and Spencer's store. | Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | New Picture House | | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Hotel | | | | Cinema | | In part of building from 1913 to 1951 |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | Royal Hotel, Princes Street | Yes | | | 55, Princes Street | | Address for cinema |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1867 | | | Reconstruction | | 1876 | | | Reconstruction | | 1913 | | Opened | Cinema opened October 1913 | | 1915 | | Design exhibited | Design for cinema | | July 1950 | | Alteration/conversion | Warrant granted for alterations at £5,000 | | 1951 | | Closed | Cinema closed 26 May 1951. Subsequently demolished, along with the hotel for a new Marks and Spencer's store |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes | | Aberdeen Hotel Co, Ltd | 8 Kinnoull Street, Perth, for alterations in 1950 | | MacGregor, Don R | Reconstruction (client for both phases of reconstruction) | | Provincial Cinematograph Theatres Limited | for cinema in 1913 |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Academy Architecture | 1915 | | Part 1 | | pp53-62 | | RSA | 1876 | | | | | | Spencer-Longhurst, Paul (ed.) | 1989 | Robert Atkinson 1883-1952 | | Achitectural Association (contributions by Gavin Stamp and Alan Powers) | p43 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 3 June 1876 | XXXIV | | | | Builder | 12 January 1913 | | | p124 | | Builder | Early 1914 | CVI | | pp521-522 (Cinema - illustration, plans sections etc) | | Builder | 11 October 1918 | CXV | | pp228-229 including plans and photographs | | Builder | 7 July 1950 | | | p45 | | Building News | 20 December 1912 | | | p887 - proposed cinema announced | | Building News | 17 January 1913 | | | p107 - plans passed |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Edinburgh City Archives | Edinburgh Dean of Guild | | Plans dated 2 February 1867 |
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