In 2020, everyone at WTW Cinemas took great pride in celebrating 75 years of bringing big screen entertainment to Cornwall…

From what started as a single screen cinema at The Capitol St Austell in 1945 to eleven cinemas now across the South West (and a few more in the planning stages), a lot of things have changed since then.

 

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns meant that any celebrations we had planned for our 75th anniversary had to be cancelled, though we certainly did raise a glass in our homes.

 

Thank you to all our teams who have worked throughout the 75 years, and to all those who have enjoyed the big screen experience with us. 

 

Whilst WTW Cinemas always strives to look forward, sometimes its interesting to look back at some of the events that have shaped our company…

Some of the highlights over the past 75 years…..

WT. Williams commences operations in Wadebridge as a construction firm.

The Chapman and Williams families purchase ‘The Capitol Theatre’ in Alexandra Road St Austell on the 29th June, 1945.

WT Williams purchase ‘The Cinedrome’ in Padstow.

The Capitol Theatre St Austell is used by the award winning St Blazey AOS Pantomime for the first time.

Bingo arrives in St Austell.

WTW Cinemas current Director David Williams joins the company as a trainee projectionist.

The Regal Cinema, Wadebridge is purchased.

The Regal Wadebridge smashes box – office records with an eight week roadshow presentation of “The Sound Of Music”

The first of many – The Regal Wadebridge wins Walt Disney Productions “Most Improved Business For 1974” for the Disney film “The Incredible Journey”

WTW Cinemas purchases the former Odeon / Classic cinema in Chandos Place, St. Austell.

After extensive works, the former Odeon cinema in St. Austell is re-opened as the first three-screen cinema in Cornwall under the name “The Filmcentre”.

WTW Cinemas sell The Capitol St Austell.

It remains in use as a full-time Bingo hall.

The Filmcentre St. Austell celebrates One Million visitors since it became a 3 screen cinema in 1981

The FilmCentre, St. Austell creates two extra screens, making it Cornwall’s first five-screen cinema.

WTW purchase the bankrupt Plaza at Truro from receivers.

It’s licence is immediately revoked by Carrick District Council. A comprehensive building and modernisation programme is commenced.

The Padstow cinema is remodelled and relaunched as ‘The Cinedrome’.

The design of the auditorium is brought back to its original.

The Plaza at Truro re-opens to the public under WTW ownership.

The locally filmed ‘Amy Foster’ has its UK Premiere at The Regal Cinema, Wadebridge.

WTW Cinemas launches its first website.

Robert Williams joins WTW, the fifth generation to join the family business. Brother Mark Williams joins in 2002.

The UK Premiere of ‘Saving Grace’ along with its stars and producers is held at Wadebridge, having been filmed locally at Port Issac.

UK Premiere of “Keeping Mum” held at The Plaza at Truro

“Keeping Mum” happened to be partly filmed at the home of a staff member from The Plaza, he managed to sneak in a special WTW Cinemas prop into the background…

The Plaza at Truro is voted the Best UK Independent Cinema,

at the RAAM International Cinema Conference in Glasgow.

The FilmCentre at St. Austell closes,

after a long period of uncertainty regarding the regeneration of the St. Austell Town Centre, making way for a new WTW Cinema.

WTW Cinemas first Digital Cinema projector is installed at The Plaza at Truro.

The new ‘White River Cinema’ with four screens opens to the public of St Austell,

becoming the third cinema to be operated by WTW in St Austell and the first purpose built cinema to be constructed in Cornwall for seventy years.

The Plaza at Truro is voted the Runner up in the Best UK Independent Cinema,

at the RAAM International Cinema Conference.

The Cinedrome at Padstow is sold by WTW.

The buildings remains in use as a electronic testing centre and the foyer as a cafe.

The White River Cinema at St. Austell is voted the Best UK Independent Cinema,

at the RAAM International Cinema Conference in London.

The Lighthouse Cinema in Newquay is opened by WTW Cinemas, returning the big screen to Newquay after an absence of 16 years.

It is the first cinema in Cornwall to feature fully digital projection systems. The projection equipment at the other WTW Cinemas are quickly upgraded after.

 

The Plaza at Truro, The Regal Cinema at Wadebridge & White River Cinema at St. Austell commence live satellite transmissions of theatrical shows, concerts, opera and ballet.

The White River Cinema at St. Austell plays host to the UK Premiere of Richard Curtis’ “About Time” which was filmed in the St. Austell Bay Area.

WTW Cinemas Director David Williams is awarded an MBE in The New Years Honours List. He receives the award at an investiture by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

He is also invited to a reception by The Royal Family for the Film Industry at Windsor Castle.

BBC Film critic Mark Kermode begins a series of special presentations at The Plaza at Truro.

The technical team at The Plaza at Truro are voted UK Technical Team of the Year at an award ceremony at the London headquarters of Dolby Studios.

The Plaza at Truro wins the “Best Cinema” Award at the What’s On Cornwall Awards,

as voted by the readers of ‘The West Briton’, ‘Cornishman’ and ‘Cornish Guardian’ newspapers.

Live Satellite transmissions begin at The Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay.

The first 4k Digital projector in Cornwall is installed, at The Regal Cinema, Wadebridge.

The Plaza Truro hosts the first episode of BBC’s ‘ Poldark’ along with its stars.

WTW Cinemas celebrates its 70th anniversary.

The Plaza at Truro adds a fifth screen, “The Lemon Suite”.

WTW are awarded cinema partner of the year at More2Screen’s “Mafta’s” recognising their commitment to the delivery of event cinema and live transmissions.

Mark Williams receives the award.

The first episode of the second series of the BBC’s ‘Poldark’ is held at the White River Cinema in St Austell.

WTW Cinemas takes a “substantial shareholding” in Devon-based Scott Cinemas, renaming it WTW-Scott Cinemas.

WTW Cinemas celebrate fifty years of ownership of the Regal Cinema, Wadebridge.

WTW are presented with a further MAFTA award at a ceremony in London for Best Administration.

David Williams is represented by Robert Williams and receives an outstanding achievement award at the London offices of Universal Studios in a ceremony by The Cinema Technology Community.

The Lighthouse Newquay holds the UK Premiere of “Fisherman’s Friends”.

WTW become majority shareholders in Scott Cinemas.

The new company comprises cinemas in Bristol, East Grinstead, Bridgwater, Barnstaple, Sidmouth, Newton Abbot, Exmouth, St Austell, Newquay, Truro and Wadebridge.

WTW Cinemas celebrates 75 years of bringing the Big Screen to the people of Cornwall.

QUICK BOOK