The Embassy Cinema opened on 30th October 1939. It was advertised as ‘South Wales Newest Super Cinema’. Designed in an Art deco style, the facade is mainly brick, with a row of windows over the entrance, above which are four slender bands in white stone. Inside the auditorium seating was provided in stalls and circle levels. There was a decorative surround to the 33 feet wide rectangular proscenium. The Embassy Cinema was independently operated by the Issacs family. The Embassy had a large car park and a cycle park for the convenience of its patrons

By 1980 it had been sold, on the proviso that cinema use continued. Pop shows began to be staged as well as normal film performances. Bingo was also introduced 3 nights a week.

It was later sold to Nudge Leisure Ltd. but this was short lived and it closed as a cinema in May 1987 and was refurbished to re-open as the Ritz Bingo Club. Bingo continued until closing in 1999 when a new purpose built bingo hall opened in the town. The building had remained unaltered, apart from the installation of a false ceiling in the foyer and remains a fine example of the work of noted architect David Evelyn Nye.

Photographed at the end of July 2011, demolition had just commenced at the rear of the building.

A late 60s or early 70s view from Newcastle Church by John Lee.

A view from Newcastle Church by the Late Glyn Miller.

A poster for the Embassy Cinema dated 1980. Photograph courtesy of John Lee.

(enlarge by clicking on it.)

An advertisement anouncing the opening of the Bridgend Embassy proudly proclaimed it was South Wales Latest Super Luxury Cinema and listed the following features:

• 1500 Luxury seats with extra leg room.

• All air is washed and purified, heated or cooled before entering the Embassy, it is furthermore completely changed every six minutes.

• Concealed floor heating.

• Centralised Vacuum Cleaning System.

• Car Park for 150 cars - Free to Embassy patrons.

• Covered accomodation for Cycles, Perambulators, Free to Embassy patrons.

• Large Waiting Lounge.

• Popular Prices: 6d., 1/- and 1/6.

• Delightful restful Interior Colour Scheme.

• British-Thomas-Houston Sound System, as fitted in the Odeon, Leicester Square.

• Opening on Monday, October 30th at 4.15pm.

(Text of advertisement is taken from the publication "Bridgend, Oldcastle and Newcastle" compiled by Natalie Murphy and published by Tempus Publishing Limited 2000.)

In the winter of 1963, photographed by John Lee.

Another photograph in the winter of 1963, this time from the camera of the Late Glyn Miller.

The Embassy photographed at the time of the demolition of the "new" bridge. Photograph courtesy of Tim Wood.