Historic Scarborough cinema and bingo hall nominated as community asset
An historic leisure venue in Scarborough has been successfully nominated as an asset of community value.
The Capitol Plaza, which opened as “Scarborough’s first talkie cinema” almost a century ago and later became Mecca Bingo, should be considered an asset of community value, North Yorkshire Council has said.
It comes as the Capitol Theatre Trust is hoping to restore the Grade II listed building and reopen it as a community-focused venue with a receiving house theatre capable of hosting mainstream touring productions.
Proposed facilities include public and accessible toilets, a unisex baby change room, a community café serving as a warm space in the winter, low-cost rehearsal and meeting rooms for local groups, and creative hot-desking spaces.
A consultation on the plans will begin on September 19.
On Tuesday, August 25, North Yorkshire Council said: “It should be placed on the North Yorkshire Council Assets of Community Value List of Successful Nominations.”
George Wakely, director of the trust, said: “Just as Mecca Bingo once served as a lifeline for the community, we want the Capitol to continue that legacy, supporting local people and nurturing Scarborough’s creative industry.
“Scarborough has a cultural gap when it comes to touring theatre.
“While we’re fortunate to have strong cultural venues like the Open Air Theatre, the Stephen Joseph Theatre and The Spa, none can accommodate the scale or technical requirements of major UK tours.
“Our aim isn’t to compete with existing venues, but to complement them with something Scarborough currently lacks.”
Built in 1929, the Capitol opened as the town’s first “talkie” cinema after being wired for sound just weeks before its grand opening.
At its peak, Scarborough boasted eleven theatres and music halls; today, only four remain in operation.
Mecca took over the site in 1977 and remained in the building until October 2025, when deterioration of the building prompted its closure.
A site visit was undertaken by council officers in July, but access was limited to the external areas at the front of the property, and they were not possible to inspect the rear of the building or the interior.
The council’s localities team said the new project was known to the authority and a recent meeting was held with one of the Trustees.
Officers added: “The proposal appears positive in principle and aligns with community-focused objectives, and funding has also recently been awarded through the Inspire programme to support initial community engagement and consultation activity.”
A report noted that the Capitol Plaza is “well-known within the local area, has historic and cultural significance to its residents and continues to attract support and interest from people with a strong connection to the community”.
George Wakely said: “Since the demolition of the Futurist Theatre in 2018, Scarborough has been without a large-scale venue with adequate wing and fly space to attract mainstream theatre, with residents having to travel to Hull or Sheffield to see productions that cannot be staged locally, as York’s Victorian theatres are often too small for many modern shows.”
“We aim to complete and open Phase Three by October 2029, exactly one hundred years since the Capitol first opened its doors.”