A fond look back at Wigan's much-missed picture palaces

Wigan, in common with every other town up and down the land, once boasted a plethora of cinemas.

By Alan Weston

Published 1st Mar 2024, 15:45 GMT

Sadly all that has now changed. Following the closure of the Empire multiplex at Robins Park last summer, the town no longer has a single cinema to its name.

Here we take a look back at the golden age of Wigan’s silver screens, when there was a cinema on nearly every street corner.

1. The Picture House cinema, Scholes, Wigan, c. 1930

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2. The County Playhouse on King Street, Wigan, which was a bingo club in this view from 1980.

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3. County Playhouse pictured in 1982

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4. The Court Cinema, King Street, Wigan, 1961.

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