This article was published in 2025.
History
Lyme Regis has a modest but notable history with cinema. The town’s cinematic connection is influenced both by its natural beauty, which has attracted a number of filmmakers, and its community efforts to foster local film culture which continues to this day.
Early cinema in Lyme Regis was typical of most small towns. Screenings would be shown in temporary picture houses which would often be village halls etc, the Marine Theatre or the Lyme Regis Drill Hall as it was known back then (late 1880s- early 1900s) would have been a primary location for cinema.
In the 1930s the Drill Hall became the Marine Cinema. It was used for entertaining visiting naval ships, HMS Rodney in 1930, and Destroyers HMS Vidette and HMS Westcott in July 1932. During World War II it became a services canteen with ENSA and American concert parties performing on the stage, including stars such as James Cagney and American heavyweight boxing legend Joe Louis. The Marine Cinema was closed after the end of World War II in 1946, and was converted into the Marine Theatre to the plans of architectural firm Webb & Partners.
Seeing the demand for cinema in Lyme Regis, The Regent Cinema was born. It is believed that Lyme Regis is the smallest town in England to have had its own cinema.
This Regent was the brainchild of local and independent cinema operator, Donald Hardy and his father Walter. The cinema was a splendid Art Deco style picture house designed by Bristol based architect William Henry Watkins. Opening on the 11th of October with Hugh Wakefield in “The Limping Man”. The cinema provided a sense of community within the town, regularly hosting silver screen films and hosting Lyme Regis Film society. It was sadly destroyed by a fire which broke out on the 22nd March 2016, while staff were preparing for the cinema to open for the matinee screening of “Hail, Caesar” starring George Clooney.
Lyme Regis is also known as a shoot destination with a number of large productions being filmed in this little town. Arguably the most famous being The French Lieutenant’s Woman released in 1981 featuring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons. Other films shot in Lyme Regis include Ammonite (2020) starring Kate Winslet & Saoirse Ronan, Wonka (2022) featuring Timothee Chalamet and Matt Lucas, Netflix series Heartstopper (2024) and many more.
Future
The Marine Theatre is truly delighted to announce cinema as part of our 2025 programme.
Over the last three years, we have been hard at work fundraising to offer our local community the very best cinema experience possible without having to travel out of town. Our efforts have now paid off.
The audience experience has been at the very heart of our plans. We are so pleased to share a full cinema experience with a state-of-the-art DCP projector, new comfortable seating, beautiful golden British velvet curtains and an enhanced cinema sound system!
We’re delighted to launch our new cinema programme with one of the most celebrated actors of his generation. Brian Cox, star of countless plays, films, and television series is visiting Lyme Regis for an exclusive event. On Tuesday 28 January Brian will be interviewed on stage and his film Manhunter will be shown – there will even be a chance for audience questions. We hope you can join us for this very special evening, which will be raising funds for the Marine Theatre Young Filmmakers’ Course starting this year. Book your tickets and find out more about the cinema launch event here.
Details of programmed films will be shared on the Marine’s website – and please look out for special cinema events and family films during holiday times!
We would like to send a heartfelt thanks to all the organisations that have made the Marine Cinema possible. Our particular thanks to Lyme Regis Town Council whose generous support of not only the cinema project, but also through the continued support of the Marine.
