Ritz Cinema

This may not have been the most stunning building, but it had stood since 1939. The Ritz Cinema was the last to be planned by the Union Cinemas circuit, as they were taken over by Associated British Cinemas(ABC). The cinema was completed and opened it on 22 May 1939 and it gave pleasure to many in the area. The Ritz was fitted with with Cinemascope in 1955. In 1961 it became the ABC and as well as showing films you could get your weekly fix of Bingo. The cinema closed on 25th April 1978 with apparently a Bruce Lee film finishing its days as a cinema. It was leased to Silverline Entertainments and became a bingo club. It remained on bingo until 1982 when it was closed. Kwiksave then took it on as a supermarket, but when they left the old Ritz building fell into decline. There have been many rumours as to what it was going to be used for but the rumours have died along with the building.

This was the Ritz a few days ago.

This is the Ritz today. It stands no more. In its place there are going to be retirement apartments and shops. I think its a real shame that such a building has been knocked down, it would have been nice if at least the front of the building could have been saved and incorporated in the new build. But I guess they call it progress, we will see when it comes to selling the apartments, because Market Harborough already has a lot of retirement apartments and many are still sitting empty.