This information is part of work in progress, assembled from disparate sources, to track the ownership of British cinemas.
are included.
Where additional screens were operated (booked) but not owned, the number is shown in red.
.
A colon : marks years when circuits were in operation but for which the number of screens is not available.
| THE MAJOR CIRCUITS (100 screens or more) |
head office |
1947 |
1948 |
1950 |
1952 |
1956 |
1960 |
1967 |
1969 |
| Associated British Cinemas (ABC) |
London |
296 |
: |
404 |
288 |
281 |
153 |
267 |
231 |
| Circuits Management Association (Odeon, Gaumont) |
London |
— |
— |
546 |
646 |
502 |
417 |
— |
— |
| Gaumont-British Picture Corporation (GBPC) |
London |
243 |
|
form CMA above |
— |
— |
| Odeon Theatres |
London |
308 |
|
Rank below |
| [Rank] Odeon (Northern Ireland)# |
Belfast |
— |
|
|
— |
— |
20 |
14 |
15 |
| Irish Cinemas [Rank]# |
Dublin |
— |
|
|
9 |
— |
11 |
|
9
|
| Odeon (Ireland)# |
Dublin |
16 |
|
|
9 |
6 |
6 |
— |
5 |
| Rank Theatres |
London |
— |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
276 |
272 |
| Essoldo Circuit (Control) |
Newcastle upon Tyne |
48 |
: |
92 |
94 |
183 |
165 |
148 |
52 |
| Star Associated Holdings |
Leeds |
43 |
: |
: |
70 |
104 |
118 |
62 |
76 |
| OTHER CIRCUITS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| A-B |
head office |
1947 |
1948 |
1950 |
1952 |
1956 |
1960 |
1967 |
1969 |
| Abertillery Theatres |
Cardiff |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Associated GP Cinemas |
Glasgow |
17 |
: |
: |
19
|
17
|
13
|
8 |
8 |
| Associated Southport Cinemas |
Southport |
4 |
: |
: |
3 |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
| Atkinson's Pictures |
Bristol |
4 |
: |
: |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| H Bancroft Circuit |
Wisbech |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
| Barber's Cinemas |
Tunstall |
4 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Bedford Cinemas |
Liverpool |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
5 |
— |
— |
| The Blackpool Tower Company |
Blackpool |
— |
— |
— |
— |
5 |
2 |
— |
— |
| L Blond Circuit |
Liverpool |
4 |
: |
: |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
| Bloom Theatres |
London |
— |
|
|
6 |
5 |
3 |
— |
— |
| Bostock Cinema Circuit |
Ipswich |
19+3 |
: |
: |
13+3 |
12+3 |
10+3 |
4+4 |
4+4 |
| Brennan's Cinemas |
Manchester |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
14 |
14 |
6 |
4 |
| Bridgend Cinemas |
Cardiff |
— |
— |
— |
— |
7 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
| Broxburn Enterprises/Buchan Enterprises |
Broxburn |
— |
|
|
5 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
| John Buckley Circuit |
Salford |
— |
|
|
9 |
8 |
7 |
— |
— |
| Buxton Theatre Circuit |
Manchester |
12 |
: |
: |
7 |
8 |
1 |
— |
— |
| Miles Byrne Group of Companies |
Hereford/Hove |
— |
|
|
2 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
| C |
head office |
1947 |
1948 |
1950 |
1952 |
1956 |
1960 |
1967 |
1969 |
| Caledonian Associated Cinemas |
Inverness |
51 |
51 |
51 |
51 |
52 |
50 |
49 |
45 |
| Cambrian Cinemas |
Aberystwyth |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2 |
| Capital and Counties Electric Theatres |
Poole |
4 |
: |
: |
6 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
| Capital and Provincial News Theatres |
London |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
24 |
28 |
— |
— |
| Capitol and Allied Theatres |
Dublin |
7 |
: |
: |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| The Castle and Central Cinemas |
Cardiff |
— |
|
|
3 |
2 |
1 |
— |
— |
| Catlin's Circuit |
Scarborough |
5 |
: |
: |
3 |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
| Central PTs (Lincoln) |
Leeds |
4 |
: |
: |
5 |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
| Century Pictures (Widnes) |
Widnes |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
| Cheshire County Cinemas |
Runcorn |
8+1 |
: |
: |
10+1 |
8+1 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
| Cinecenta |
London |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
8 |
| Cinerama Exhibitors (London) |
London |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
| The Classic Cinemas |
London |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
86 |
81 |
| Clavering and Rose |
London |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
— |
— |
| E C Clayton |
Sheffield |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
— |
— |
— |
—
|
| Clifton Cinemas (Management) |
Birmingham |
25+8 |
: |
: |
24+8 |
24+7 |
: |
12 |
12 |
| Owen Cooper Theatres |
Ipswich |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
— |
— |
| Max Corne Circuit |
Cardiff |
7 |
: |
: |
4* |
3* |
— |
— |
— |
| Cornwall Cinemas (Newquay) |
St Agnes, Cornwall |
3 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Cornwall Circuit |
Cardiff |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
| Cox Cinema Co |
Biggleswade |
5 |
: |
: |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Cranfield Cinemas |
London/Hassocks |
5 |
: |
: |
6 |
5 |
4 |
— |
— |
| Craven Cinemas |
Craven Arms, Shropshire |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
| Curran Theatres |
Belfast |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| D-G |
head office |
1947 |
1948 |
1950 |
1952 |
1956 |
1960 |
1967 |
1969 |
| J Davis Circuit |
London |
3 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Chas K Deeming Circuit |
Coalville |
6 |
: |
: |
4 |
2 |
1 |
— |
— |
| Deeside Enterprise Cinemas |
Queen's Ferry |
— |
|
|
8 |
8 |
5 |
3 |
— |
| Trueman Dicken Cinemas |
Wells, Somerset |
5 |
: |
: |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| Dorchester Cinema Co |
Dorchester |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
| Duchy Cinemas |
Fowey, Cornwall |
— |
|
|
3 |
5 |
5 |
— |
— |
| Eagle Picturedromes |
Wigan |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
— |
— |
| Eastern Counties Cinemas |
Nottingham |
was United Entmnts |
15 |
10 |
— |
— |
| J F Emery/Emery Cinema Circuit |
Manchester |
33 |
: |
: |
30 |
25 |
9 |
6 |
4 |
| Eskay |
London |
— |
— |
— |
— |
12+1 |
9 |
8 |
— |
| Evington Cinema Circuit |
Leicester |
— |
|
|
10 |
10 |
10 |
7 |
3 |
| Fife Entertainments |
Dunfermline |
— |
|
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| J M Garner Circuit |
Wisbech |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
4 |
| General Cinema Theatres |
London |
4 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Glasgow & West of Scotland Cinemas |
Glasgow |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Glen Cinemas |
Aberdeen |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
6 |
— |
— |
— |
| Goldstone (Cinemas) |
Leeds |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
— |
— |
| Goodall's Pictures (1931) |
Cleckheaton |
5 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| S Graham Circuit |
Nottingham |
13 |
: |
: |
13 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
— |
| Granada Theatres |
London |
45 |
56 |
54 |
56 |
56 |
55 |
35 |
31 |
| S A Gratton |
Glasgow |
8 |
: |
: |
7 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
— |
| Graves Cinemas |
Maryport |
7 |
: |
: |
10 |
10 |
11 |
9 |
9 |
| Gray's Cinemas |
Dundee |
— |
|
|
4 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
— |
| George Green |
Glasgow |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14+3 |
25+2 |
16 |
8 |
8 |
| Leslie Greene Circuit |
Liverpool |
4 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| I R Grove Circuit |
Bathgate |
9 |
: |
: |
24 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| H-K |
head office |
1947 |
1948 |
1950 |
1952 |
1956 |
1960 |
1967 |
1969 |
H&G Enterprises (London)/
Albert Grahame Productions |
London |
8 |
: |
: |
5 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Haggar's Cinemas |
Winchcombe |
— |
— |
— |
— |
5 |
4 |
4 |
— |
| Philip M Hanmer (Regent Enterprises) |
Liverpool |
10 |
: |
: |
12 |
8 |
3 |
— |
— |
| Hewitson's |
Smethwick |
— |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
| Highlands Development Trust |
London |
— |
: |
: |
5 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
| Hill Cinema Circuit (Cornwall) |
Truro |
6 |
: |
: |
3 |
3 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
| E J Hinge Circuit |
Newcastle |
21 |
: |
: |
19 |
13 |
12 |
— |
— |
| Hudson Cinemas |
Sheringham, Norfolk |
5 |
: |
: |
2 |
2 |
— |
— |
— |
| Hull Cinemas |
Hull |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
16 |
13 |
4 |
4 |
| F R Hunt Circuit |
Leicester |
7 |
: |
: |
6 |
6 |
— |
— |
— |
| Hutchinson (Cinemas) |
Burnley |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
6 |
2 |
5 |
| A S Hyde Circuit |
Shipley, Yorkshire |
12 |
: |
: |
10 |
10 |
7 |
— |
— |
| Ilkeston Cinema Co |
Ilkeston |
5 |
: |
: |
3 |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
| Isle of Wight Theatres |
Ryde |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
— |
— |
| Jacey Cinemas |
Birmingham |
6 |
: |
: |
10 |
10 |
15 |
13 |
11 |
| Jackson's Amusements** |
Rochdale |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
— |
— |
— |
| Ben Jay's Circuit/Jay's Entertnmnts |
London |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
— |
— |
| Miles Jervis Cinemas |
West Bromwich |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
10 |
9 |
7 |
| JHL Theatres |
London |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| JOGS Cinemas |
Leeds |
13 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| C S Joseph Circuit |
Birmingham |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
— |
— |
— |
| R L Kemp Cinemas |
Nottingham |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
9 |
8 |
| Kinemas (East Anglia) |
Hove, Sussex |
— |
|
|
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| [Sir] A B King Circuit |
Glasgow |
90 |
: |
89 |
90 |
81 |
73 |
63 |
56 |
| L-M |
head office |
1947 |
1948 |
1950 |
1952 |
1956 |
1960 |
1967 |
1969 |
| Levin's Circuit |
Nottingham |
12 |
: |
: |
13 |
11 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
| Levy Circuit (Liverpool Cinema Feature Film Co) |
Liverpool |
7 |
: |
: |
5 |
5 |
2 |
— |
— |
| Lion Cinematograph Co |
London |
5 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| London & District Cinemas |
London |
6 |
|
absorbed by Granada (above) |
|
| London and Provincial Cinemas |
London |
17 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
10 |
7 |
— |
— |
| MacNaughten Vaudeville Circuit |
Sheffield |
— |
|
|
4 |
4 |
— |
— |
— |
| MAE Managements |
Cardiff |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2 |
1 |
— |
— |
| Majestic Cinema (Pocklington) |
Pocklington |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
4 |
4 |
| Majestic Theatres Corporation |
London |
5 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Marks Circuit Cinemas |
Manchester |
20 |
: |
: |
8 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Nigel Marsh Theatre Circuit |
London |
4 |
: |
: |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Matlock Cinemas |
Matlock |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| A G Matthews |
Glasgow |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
| MBC Cinemas |
Workington |
— |
|
|
17 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Mecca |
London |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
4 |
4 |
| Medway Cinemas |
London |
9 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Charles P Metcalfe |
Leeds |
4 |
: |
: |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Mexborough Theatres |
Mexborough |
5 |
: |
: |
4 |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
| Midland Super Cinemas |
London |
9 |
: |
: |
8 |
6 |
5 |
— |
— |
| J B Milne Theatres |
Dundee |
21 |
: |
: |
21 |
24 |
27 |
32 |
25 |
| Monseigneur News Theatres |
London |
8 |
: |
: |
7 |
7 |
— |
— |
— |
| H D Moorhouse Circuit |
Manchester |
47 |
: |
: |
43 |
30 |
15 |
— |
— |
| L Morris/Mrs L F Morris Circuit |
London |
10 |
: |
: |
2 |
2 |
2 |
— |
— |
| N-R |
head office |
1947 |
1948 |
1950 |
1952 |
1956 |
1960 |
1967 |
1969 |
| New Empire (Burnley)** |
Rochdale |
7 |
: |
: |
5 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Northern Properties/Operators |
Burnley |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
4 |
— |
— |
— |
| Northern Theatres Co |
Halifax |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
— |
— |
— |
| North Western Cinemas |
Liverpool |
— |
|
|
9 |
7 |
— |
— |
— |
| North Western Film Booking Agency |
Liverpool |
11 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Ogdens Theatres Circuit |
Manchester |
9 |
: |
: |
11 |
12 |
10 |
— |
— |
| Okin Cinemas |
London |
— |
|
|
8 |
6 |
5 |
— |
— |
| Ollerton Pictures |
Bradford |
2 |
: |
: |
5 |
5 |
5 |
— |
— |
| Thos Ormiston |
Motherwell |
125 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Ormonde Circuit |
Arklow, Co Wicklow |
— |
— |
— |
— |
11 |
11 |
11 |
— |
| Orr Circuit |
Coventry |
— |
— |
— |
— |
17 |
16 |
14 |
15 |
| The Palace and Derby Castle |
Douglas, IoM |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
| Paramount Picture Theatres |
Welshpool |
20 |
: |
: |
21 |
19 |
16 |
13 |
9 |
| Paxon and Chambers |
Stoke-on-Trent |
1+2 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| John E Pearce Circuit |
London |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Poole's Circuit |
Edinburgh |
5 |
: |
: |
6 |
4 |
4 |
— |
— |
| Portman Provincial Cinemas |
Nottingham |
— |
— |
— |
— |
4 |
3 |
— |
— |
| Portsmouth Town Cinemas |
Portsmouth |
9 |
: |
: |
10 |
9 |
6 |
— |
— |
| Provincial Cinematograph Theatres (PCT) |
London |
merged with GBPC
(see above) |
|
|
| Prince's Theatres |
Barnstaple |
— |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| R E Ratcliff Circuit |
Roby, Lancashire |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
| Randolph E Richards Circuit |
Eastbourne |
7 |
: |
: |
8 |
7 |
7 |
— |
— |
| S |
head office |
1947 |
1948 |
1950 |
1952 |
1956 |
1960 |
1967 |
1969 |
| C C W Scott Circuit |
Torquay |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
5 |
5 |
Scott Theatres/
George Urie Scott Circuit |
Motherwell/
Glasgow |
5 |
: |
: |
8 |
6 |
— |
— |
— |
| Shanring |
Colwyn Bay |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2 |
— |
| Sheffield & District Cinematograph Theatres |
Sheffield |
4 |
: |
: |
7 |
7 |
4 |
— |
— |
| Shipman and King Cinemas |
London |
37 |
: |
: |
42 |
44 |
41 |
38 |
35 |
| Singleton Cinemas |
Glasgow |
3+3 |
: |
: |
3+6 |
3+6 |
2+6 |
6 |
7 |
| S M Super/Associated Cinemas |
Manchester |
68 |
: |
64 |
69 |
7 |
— |
— |
— |
| Smelts Theatres |
Newcastle |
4 |
: |
: |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Snape and Ward Circuit |
Manchester |
11 |
: |
: |
20 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| G B Snape Group of Associated Cinema Companies |
Manchester |
was Snape & Ward |
21 |
27 |
11 |
11 |
| South Downs Cinemas |
Southsea |
6 |
: |
: |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| South Wales Cinemas |
Swansea |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
— |
— |
| Southan Morris & Assoc Companies |
London |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
7 |
6 |
6 |
| Southern Cinemas |
London |
5+3 |
: |
: |
5+5 |
4+5 |
0+5 |
3 |
3 |
| W J Speakman Circuit |
Liverpool |
13 |
: |
: |
10 |
10 |
— |
— |
— |
| Spey Valley Cinemas |
Dufftown |
— |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
| Splott (Cardiff) Cinema Co |
Cardiff |
5+8 |
: |
: |
5+7 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Frank E Spring Circuit/
Spring Theatres (Cheshire) |
Manchester |
8 |
: |
: |
7 |
5 |
3 |
— |
— |
| Stafford Entertainments |
Stafford |
3 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Stoll Circuit |
London |
16 |
: |
: |
14 |
12 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
| Raymond Stross Theatres |
London |
9 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Supreme Cinemas and Assoc Companies |
Belfast |
6 |
: |
: |
12 |
14 |
14 |
11 |
11 |
| T-Z |
head office |
1947 |
1948 |
1950 |
1952 |
1956 |
1960 |
1967 |
1969 |
| E Taylor (Cinemas) |
Builth Wells |
6 |
: |
: |
7 |
6 |
4 |
— |
— |
| George Taylor Circuit |
Glasgow |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
— |
— |
— |
| Chas Thompson's Circuit |
Leeds |
4 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Thomson's Enterprises |
Middlesborough |
4+15 |
4+15 |
4+15 |
4+15 |
4+17 |
4+11 |
3 |
1 |
| Tunbridge Wells Entertainments |
Tunbridge Wells |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Twentieth Century Cinemas |
London |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Tyne Picture Houses |
Newcastle |
4+6 |
4+6 |
4+6 |
4+6 |
4+6 |
4+5 |
— |
— |
| Union Cinemas and Assoc Companies |
London |
125 |
: |
: |
114 |
90 |
76 |
— |
— |
| United Entertainments |
Nottingham |
24 |
: |
: |
20 |
Eastern Co Cinemas |
| United Picture Theatres |
London |
merged with GBPC
(see above) |
|
|
| V E H Cinemas |
Norwich |
6 |
: |
: |
7 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
| Victory Theatres |
Accrington |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
— |
— |
| Vickers Entertainments |
Wigan |
— |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
| Wallaw Pictures |
Ashington |
7 |
: |
: |
9 |
9 |
7+1 |
3 |
2 |
| Waller Enterprises (Cinemas) |
Nottingham |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2 |
2 |
— |
— |
| Walters Cinemas |
Lincoln |
2 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| H Ward Cinema Circuit |
Manchester |
was Snape & Ward |
11 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
| Wardona Circuit |
London |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
— |
— |
— |
| Warwick Cinemas (Timperley) |
Manchester |
— |
|
|
7 |
5 |
— |
— |
— |
| Wedgwood Cinemas |
Colwyn Bay |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
6 |
6 |
| C E West Circuit |
Leicester |
10 |
|
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| C H Whincup Circuit |
Leeds |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Wigan Entertainments Co |
Wigan |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
— |
— |
| Wirral Picturedromes |
Wallasey |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
— |
— |
— |
| Jackson Withers Circuits |
Cardiff |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
28 |
21 |
| Woodalls (Rochdale) |
Rochdale |
— |
— |
— |
— |
3 |
— |
— |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,846 |
: |
1,249 |
|
|
1,454 |
1,234 |
1,079 |
