User:Zippo9310/Ritz Cinema, Nuneaton

The Ritz Cinema (better known as The Ritz) is a Grade-II listed art-deco former cinema located on Abbey Street, Nuneaton. It was opened on 23 July 1937, originally for the Union Cinemas circuit, however, in October of the same year, ABC Cinemas would take over the building. The Ritz would stop showing films in 1984. After being used as a cinema, the building would be converted to a bingo hall, and trade as such until its closure.

Since closure
Since its closure, various community projects have been launched and discussed to get the building back in to use. In July 2013, fly posters were replaced with cinema-related art when local Nuneaton-based group, Art Alert, visited the venue as part of their 'Friends of the Ritz' project. In 2013, film director Ken Loach who was born in Nuneaton, backed a £5m plan for the venue to be used again, though nothing came of the plans. On 27 February 2019, the building was sold for £339,500.

Compton organ
The Ritz had a 'Compton organ' that was in an orchestra pit, which was played by organist Ken Stroud. The organ remains in use at a church in Essex.