Stockport Plaza keeps its 1930s super cinema sparkle alive

Step inside the Plaza on Stockport's Mersey Square and you step back to 1932. The Art Deco super cinema opened in October that year, and today it is recognised as the best surviving example of a 1930s super cinema in the north of England.

The Plaza was commissioned by the Reed, Snape and Ward cinema circuit, and the Lancashire architect William Thornley adapted designs from the circuit's Regal in Altrincham to fit the tighter Stockport site. The result is a building full of Art Deco detail, with touches of Egyptian-inspired decoration.

At its heart is the Compton organ, a three-manual instrument with an illuminated sunburst console. It was the first Compton theatre organ built with sunburst glass panels, and it still sits in its original position. Cecil Chadwick played it on opening night and became the resident organist.

Like many cinemas, the Plaza changed with the times and became a bingo hall in 1967. When bingo ended in 1998, the Stockport Plaza Trust bought the building with a grant from Stockport Council, and the Grade II listed venue began its long road back.

A restoration costing around £4 million, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the North West Development Agency, returned the Plaza to its 1932 glory. The volunteer-run trust now presents a mix of films and live shows, often introduced by a performance on the Compton.

The programme is wonderfully varied. Recent seasons have included concerts, comedy and tribute nights, and a festive pantomime of Aladdin starring Brian Capron alongside Karim Zeroual. A new 40-piece light orchestra, the Pyramid Players, has also launched at the venue.

The Plaza opens its doors for heritage events too. In September 2025 it took part in National Heritage Open Days with free heritage presentations through the day, a chance to learn more about the building's remarkable story.

What's on listings and seasonal brochures are available on the Plaza's website, where tickets can be booked. Arrive a little early to take in the foyer and, if you are lucky, hear the organ rise.