Name: Guided Walk: The Lost Picture Palaces of Lord Street, Southport
Start: 2026-06-21T11:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-06-21T13:00:00+01:00
Location: Garrick Parade (Clock Tower)

Guided Walk: The Lost Picture Palaces of Lord Street, Southport

Revisit the 1930s with a Southport-born cinema historian and explore the glory days of Lord Street's long-lost 'Cathedrals of the Movies'
About this Event

Many people will remember Southport's ABC, Classic and Odeon cinemas.
But how about the Picturedrome, Scala, Trocadero and Coliseum?

Imagine a tram ride along Lord Street in 1938 - you travel past one dazzling movie house after another, their glowing tiles and queues of excited picturegoers illuminated by hundreds of sparkling electric lamps...

Southport once boasted eight magnificent picture palaces on or very close to Lord Street, including some of the earliest purpose-built cinemas, art deco wonders, and 1930s super cinemas.

Revisit these lost gems and learn their secrets in this fascinating illustrated walk.

You’ll hear about the time Southport sands and the Birkdale dunes doubled for the desert in a very early Sherlock Holmes movie.
You’ll discover why a cinema roof was lifted 17 feet by hand in a remarkable feat of engineering.
You'll meet Southport-based cinema architect George E. Tonge, and the amazing and largely forgotten British film pioneer G B 'Bertie' Samuelson, born right here.
And you’ll wonder why historic listed architecture was allowed to be destroyed as recently as 2006.

What people have said about 'The Lost Picture Palaces of Lord Street'...

"Fascinating and entertaining tour that brings the Lord Street of the 30s back to life. Highly recommended." - BM

"A great way to spend a morning in Southport. We thoroughly enjoyed the guided walk. Stephen proved himself to be an entertaining and knowledgeable guide and we learnt so much about our lost cinema heritage. So very pleased we decided to join this walk." - PC

"I joined this tour last year & had the best fun.It was such a lovely experience & highly recommended." - EF

"It was so lovely to be entertained by Stephen who was so knowledgeable and passionate about our lost cinema Heritage. We both learned so much today and were amazed .Looking forward to joining another guided walk very soon." - D&F

"Thank you so much Stephen for such an informative and friendly 2 hours. Trying to recall everything you said and relaying to my daughter." - LJH