Forum

With a 1930s Art Deco interior, and a classical stone exterior, the Forum was built as a theatre/cinema in 1934. Its architect, W H Watkins, was responsible for many ‘super’ cinemas such as those at Plymouth, Coventry and Exeter. It had no fly tower, and a fairly shallow stage, but was nevertheless used for live shows. In the 1960s the building was converted to bingo, but closed around 1966. Empty for some years, planning applications were submitted in 1986 for conversion to part dance hall and part retail. The exterior has been preserved, except at street level where there has been some change to accommodate retail outlets. The interior has been well restored, and stage and acoustics improved to form a performance venue, not only for evangelical use, but for stage/concert & festival productions. Other rooms allow the whole to be hired for seminars etc. A dancing school occupies rooms at the top of the building for classes.