Is this the most neglected blog ever?
Very probably. But in the interests of tedious consistency, here's an update on the former Carlton Cinema / Mecca Bingo Hall:
More Carlton Cinema
Still trying to convince us
I realise this is less a blog and more a historical reference to two or three weeks back in September, but having invested so much time in getting the blinkin' thing working, I am fully intending to use it more. In the meantime, I've just noticed a big sign on the outside of the Old Carlton Cinema saying they're doing another exhibition this Saturday. I'm not sure why - whether the plans have changed, or they're just giving people the opportunity to have another look at the existing ones - but there it is. I doubt there'll be a chance to look inside, but I'll be popping over just in case.
I’m boring you now
New River Hall. Posh, isn't it.
I'm beginning to wonder if I'm boring myself, to be honest - but it's 4.30 in the morning and the firstborn won't sleep quite yet, so here we are.
I have my grubby mitts on the proposals for the Carlton Cinema site, thanks to the nice chap at 'Four Communications'.
On the face of it, it looks impressive. And very expensive. The plan is to keep the front, restore the insides (keeping the original colour schemes) but then build on top, and I assume excavate underneath, unless there's already a massive basement. There'll also be a massive glass edifice to the back, not troubling Essex Road but completely changing the face of River Walk - and an entrance on River Place to the conference centre, plus entrance to the flats from Astey's Row.
I'm not sure I'd be interested in living in a flat that's built above a church/cinema - so the soundproofing would have to be very good. I expect that'll be one of the things the council will examine when they consider these plans. Obviously it represents a significant improvement to what's there now, and retains the listed front.
A couple of things that may also affect the plans - the protected alignment for Crossrail 2 runs straight underneath the site - although I'm sure that nothing will come of it until at least 2025, it'll involve significant work around River Place to get Essex Road station up to scratch, and there were plans at one stage for a ventilation shaft in River Place. I can imagine all that having a serious effect on 44 flats.
I'm also concerned about where the money is coming from - for a church with no congregation (according to the Islington Gazette) this is an ambitious project. Personally, I would have thought encouraging people to go to St Stephens would be a better use of time and energy and only represents a 50 yard walk along the New River Path, but I suppose Christianity doesn't work like that any more.
Carlton Cinema Again
Sadly, due to circumstances beyond my control (arriving home from hospital with baby and wife in tow) I wasn't able to get to the exhibition about the plans for the Carlton Cinema on Essex Road. It now appears that flats are to be built at the back, along with a basement conference centre. There's a lightweight article in the Islington Gazette (no surprises there) - I've been in touch with the PR company dealing with it so hopefully I'll be able to write again with a bit more detail. What made me laugh about the article was the comment that 44 flats would be built - none of them affordable. Then I remembered this picture from a book about Tramways of Holborn and Finsbury - any excuse to put up a picture of a tram - even if the purpose of the picture is to highlight the cinema in the background.
Route 77 circa 1939 on Essex Road
Television For London
Now Showing Jack Lemmon in Days Of Wine And Roses
(Anyone that gets the above reference is, like me, a saddo.) Much hand-wringing over the abandonment of the Carlton Cinema on Essex Road several years ago when the smoking ban came in and the people at Mecca claimed it would put them out of business. This somehow meant closing the bingo hall even before the ban came into force and they had time to measure the effect - but the suspicion always was that maintaining such a staggeringly beautiful (in my eyes, at least) building was always going to be a financial drain. And it was only a few weeks ago that I emailed a few of my local friends expressing concern that since it's purchase by a religious group of uncertain covenance, it had lain empty and boarded up. I was reminded of its plight when I stumbled on this fabulous photoset on Flickr. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised when this came through the door this morning. Basically, it's an invitation to an exhibition in the former cinema by 'Resurrection Manifestations', on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th, where they'll outline their plans. I'm hoping it's not an opportunity to show off how run down the insides are, and explaining that they can't possibly restore it but will have to rip it all out and start again. Something in the pit of my stomach tells me that's what'll happen. But at the very least it'll be the first time we've been allowed in for almost three years, so it'll be an interesting comparison. If you have strong opinions, please turn up. Incidentally, I had a quick noodle around the Resurrection Manifestations website, and while they look fairly benign and it's all about Jesus and the power of God to save lives, they don't seem to have a large number of events planned, and I was quite surprised to see the events arranged under the headings 'Men's Fellowship', 'Men of Vision' and then 'Women's Fellowship' and 'Ladie's (sic) of Excellence' which hints at a somewhat segregated approach to life. They operate out of 'The Sanctuary' in Amhurst Park, and scratching the surface of that leads you to a man called 'Prince David'. This is a man who, according to princedavid.org "People around the globe know [..] as a noted evangelist, prophet, teacher, father and remarkable man of God. His long awaited ministry had been foretold by God through prominent prophets." He also seems quite keen on establishing christianity in the Middle East. Let me tell you, it's been tried. Anyway, there's an opportunity on their website to apply for a prayer, with a box where you can fill in all the details, so I shall ask God not to allow the interior of the former Carlton Cinema on Essex Road to be ripped out. And also to shine His light to give meaning to the scripture, in particular "extension" and "residential accommodation to the rear of the site".