ABC Cinema - Liverpool

History

“The building has since lay dormant with plans announced in 2016 for it to be redeveloped into an £11 million music venue but no work has started yet. On Liverpool's bustling Lime Street, the imposing shell of the former ABC Cinema stands as a poignant reminder of the city's golden age of entertainment. Originally opened in 1931 as the grand "Forum," this Art Deco masterpiece, designed by William R. Glen and Alfred Ernest Shennan, was a picture palace of immense scale and splendor. Its striking Portland stone facade hinted at the lavish interior, which included a vast auditorium capable of holding over 1,800 patrons, all eager to escape into the magic of the silver screen. For decades, the Forum reigned supreme, a key player in Liverpool's vibrant cultural scene. Renamed the "ABC Cinema" in 1971, the building adapted to changing times, eventually being converted into a three-screen cinema in 1982 and later becoming "The Cannon." However, despite these transformations, the cinema's doors ultimately closed in 1998, leaving the grand building silent. Though briefly repurposed as an exhibition space, including for the Liverpool Biennial in 2016, the former ABC Cinema has largely remained empty since its closure, its future uncertain. Despite various redevelopment proposals, including plans to transform it into a music venue. Designated a Grade II listed building the building awaits a new lease of life”.