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Carlton Cinema, Essex Road

Carlton Cinema
The building in 2005
Interactive map of the Carlton Cinema area
General information
Architectural styleArt Deco
LocationEssex Road, Islington
Coordinates51°32′25″N 0°05′50″W / 51.5404°N 0.0971°W / 51.5404; -0.0971
Opened1930
Renovated2015
Governing bodyResurrection Manifestations (church)
Design and construction
ArchitectGeorge Coles
Other information
Seating capacity2,226
Public transit accessNational Rail Essex Road
Victoria Line National Rail Mildmay line Windrush line Highbury & Islington
Northern Line Angel
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated16 January 1974
Reference no.1292870 [1]

The former Carlton Cinema (and then Mecca Bingo) is an Art Deco Grade II* listed building,[2] located at 161–169 Essex Road, Islington, London. It was completed in 1930 as a cine-variety theatre with a capacity of 2,226 seats.

Building

Architect George Coles is now famous for the many Art Deco cinemas he designed,[3] including the Troxy in Stepney (1933),[4] the Odeon, Muswell Hill (1936-6),[5] and the Gaumont State Cinema in Kilburn (1937).[6]

The Carlton Cinema was an early foray into his signature style, with an Egyptian influence. The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in November 1922 had contributed to a brief "Egyptomania" and influenced the Art Deco style and the buildings erected in that period,[7] particularly cinemas and theatres.[8][9]

The brightly coloured frieze

The building's façade is covered in black, white and coloured faience, with other walls in yellow brick. The façade has a stylized frieze of lotus flowers in coloured faience running around the ground and upper floors.[10]

Inside, the building is mainly Empire style, with Egyptian decorations in the foyer, while the auditorium has a French Renaissance style.

In 2024, the building was one of many in Islington that was considered "at risk,"[11] but benefited from a renovation in 2025.[8]

History

The cinema opened in 1930 with a screening of Welcome Danger.[12]

Carlton Cinema was taken over by Associated British Cinemas Ltd. (ABC) in February 1935, and was famous for "ABC Minors" Saturday morning screenings.[12]

In 1972, the building was converted into the Mecca Bingo Club, a bingo hall[13] which operated for almost 35 years until March 2007.[14]

It was purchased by an evangelical Christian church Resurrection Manifestations in 2007, and reopened in 2015 as Gracepoint, a 900 capacity venue available for hire and an active church.[15]

  • The façade and foyer of the building appear as the Roxy Cinema in episode 2 series 5 of Endeavour, titled Cartouche.

References

  1. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1292870)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  2. ^ England, Historic. "Former Mecca Bingo, 161–169, Essex Road N1 – Islington – Historic England". historicengland.org.uk.
  3. ^ "George Coles". Architect of the Week. Modernism in Metroland. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Troxy, 490 Commercial Road, London (Grade II) (1065742)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Odeon Cinema, Muswell Hill Road (Grade II*) (1079178)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  6. ^ Historic England. "Mecca Bingo (formerly Gaumont State Cinema), 195-199, Kilburn High Road (Grade II*) (1078889)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Carlton Cinema". Look Up London. 26 December 2015.
  8. ^ a b Dean, Jon (31 March 2025). "Iconic Islington building restored to former glory". Islington Gazette.
  9. ^ UCL (1 October 2019). "British Modernism, the Art World and Ancient Egypt". The Equiano Centre. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  10. ^ "MECCA BINGO, Non Civil Parish - 1292870 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  11. ^ Carrier, Dan (15 November 2024). "At risk churches are told they must open doors 'for new uses'". The Islington Tribune.
  12. ^ a b Noble, Will (24 July 2025). "What Lies Behind The Egyptian Facade Of The Old Carlton Cinema On Essex Road?". The Londonist. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  13. ^ "These London Buildings All Used To Be Cinemas". Londonist. 26 January 2017.
  14. ^ "ABC Islington in London, GB – Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org.
  15. ^ Dean, Jon (31 March 2015). "Iconic Islington building restored to former glory". Islington Gazette. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
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