Carlton Cinema, Essex Road
Former cinema in Islington, London, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The former Carlton Cinema (and then Mecca Bingo) is an Art Deco Grade II* listed building,[2] located at 161–169 Essex Road, Islington, London. It was completed in 1930 as a cine-variety theatre with a capacity of 2,226 seats.
| Carlton Cinema | |
|---|---|
The building in 2026 | |
 Interactive map of the Carlton Cinema area | |
General information | |
Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Location | Essex Road, Islington |
| Coordinates | 51.5404°N 0.0971°W |
| Opened | 1930 |
| Renovated | 2015 |
| Governing body | Resurrection Manifestations (church) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | George Coles |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 2,226 |
Public transit |  Essex Road  Highbury & Islington Angel |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Designated | 16 January 1974 |
| Reference no. | 1292870 [1] |
Building
Architect George Coles is now famous for the many Art Deco cinemas he designed,[3] including the Troxy in Stepney (1933),[4] the Odeon, Muswell Hill (1936-6),[5] and the Gaumont State Cinema in Kilburn (1937).[6]
The Carlton Cinema was an early foray into his signature style, with an Egyptian influence. The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in November 1922 had contributed to a brief "Egyptomania" and influenced the Art Deco style and the buildings erected in that period,[7] particularly cinemas and theatres.[8][9]
The building's façade is covered in black, white and coloured faience, with other walls in yellow brick. The façade has a stylized frieze of lotus flowers in coloured faience running around the ground and upper floors.[10]
Inside, the building is mainly Empire style, with Egyptian decorations in the foyer, while the auditorium has a French Renaissance style.
In 2024, the building was one of many in Islington that was considered "at risk,"[11] but benefited from a renovation in 2025.[8]
History
The cinema opened in 1930 with a screening of Welcome Danger.[12]
Carlton Cinema was taken over by Associated British Cinemas Ltd. (ABC) in February 1935, and was famous for "ABC Minors" Saturday morning screenings.[12]
In 1972, the building was converted into the Mecca Bingo Club, a bingo hall[13] which operated for almost 35 years until March 2007.[14]
It was purchased by an evangelical Christian church Resurrection Manifestations in 2007, and reopened in 2015 as Gracepoint, a 900 capacity venue available for hire and an active church.[15]
In popular culture
The façade and foyer of the building appear as the Roxy Cinema in episode 2 series 5 of Endeavour, titled Cartouche.
Gallery
Auditorium in 2026
Foyer in 2026
Detail of the coloured frieze
The building in 2005, when it was a Mecca Bingo hall
