Coventry's Cinemas

I was brought up in the dales and attended Whitemoor school, can anyone remember an area or a building called The Brookville maybe around Holbrooks somewhere

The Brookville was a cinema in Holbrook Lane which opened in 1928, was bombed in 1940, was rebullt as a factory in 1955 and is now a carpet store. Only the elegant facade remains. Karpet Kingdom 2006

Hya Dutchy. Hot off the Coventry Tele Forums!!!! Wasn't there another cinema just over Courtaulds bridge, was that the Roxy or Rivoli? I know one was of them was on the corner of Windmill Lane opposite the New Inn? I seemed to remember they were of the same group. hey always got the old films!!!

I'm sure Dutchman can provide fuller details but the two you refer to were The Roxy (later the Redesdale) on Foleshill Road, more recently The Nanaskar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple and The Ritz on Longford Road.

The derelict cinema which is on the junction of Dovedale Road, Windmill Road and Foleshill Road, was originally called The Dovedale. There was also a cinema on the Foleshill Road between Livingstone Road and The General Wolfe - but for the life of me I can't remember what it was called.

That would be The Regal, formerly The Grand Picture House

This was also a nightclub called 'Tree Tops' at one point: Tree Tops This is the Dovedale/Ritz as it originally was: Dovedale Cinema It was also known as the 'Rivoli' at one stage, not to be confused with the 'Tivoli' which was in Webster Street.

Wonderful drawing of the Dovedale, Dutchman. When I used to go there regularly as a kid in the late '40s and early '50s, it still looked pretty much the same, albeit rather shabby. Sad to see a once handsome building ruined.

I was trying to recall all the old cinemas (as you do!) and their locations, that Coventry once hosted. I couldn't find a list on this site, anyone care to start one? TonyS

Hi TonyS. I used to have a list of all the cinemas in Cov during the 50s & 60s but lost it somewhere. I can remember there were at least 20. Someone once said there was even more. I will try to name some. There was the "Odeon", "Opera House", "Ritz", "Lyric", "Palladium", "Gaumont", "Roxy", "Globe", "Astoria", "Forum", "Alexandra", "Paris", "Empire", "Savoy", "Standard" on Tile Hill Lane. At the moment I cannot think of others. It's too late at night but I'm sure someone will remember. Hope this has been of help. Doug.

Don't forget the Dovedale on the corner of Windmill Road and Dovedale Avenue, last time I was in Coventry it had trees growing out of the roof and was painted blue.

Thank you, thats a good start. Tony

A few more for the list, there was the Crown (the bughole), next to Astons car showrooms in Far Gosford St, The Prince of Wales (the fleapit) on the Stoney Stanton Rd, and the Scala in Gosford St, plus a few more that I will have to think about. Alan

Are you sure it wasn't Astley's Warehouse Alan? (Although Astons did own a number of garages in the area and the Crown had already been renamed the Paris by the time I lived in Gosford St). There's a full list with name changes here:- Coventry Cinemas

Hi Dutchman! No, it was definitely Astons which was on the corner of Vecqueray St and Far Gosford St. The showroom there sold both cars and motorcycles (but I must admit I do get confused these days between Gosford St and Far Gosford St). Alan.