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WTW Cinemas
Bringing the Big Screen to Cornwall for 80 Years

Our Story…

For over 80 years, WTW Cinemas has been at the heart of Cornwall’s film-going experience, bringing the magic of the movies to generations of local communities. From its humble beginnings in the post-war years to its evolution into a much-loved independent cinema circuit, WTW has played a central role in shaping the region’s cultural landscape. This page is dedicated to celebrating that remarkable journey—highlighting the stories, milestones, and memories that have defined WTW Cinemas since 1945.

1878

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

1919

The Padstow site opens as a Music Hall, Theatre and shows silent movies as "The Cinedrome"

1926

The Capitol Theatre, St Austell opens to the public.

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1931

The Wadebridge site opens for the first time as "The Regal" also under the ownership of Edgar John Pope, designed by architect O.P. Bevan of Bargoed, Glamorganshire

1936

The Plaza Cinema, Truro opens for the first time, operated by "Sound & Movement" and designed by noted Bristol based cinema architect William Henry Watkins.

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1936

The Odeon, St Austell opens It first opened on 11th July 1936 as the Odeon, part of the Oscar Deutsch ‘Odeon Theatres’ chain. The programme for the opening week was "Jack Of All Trades". Seating was provided for 806 in the stalls and 468 in the circle.

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1940

The Cinedrome at Padstow, is renamed "The Regal".

1943

The Cinedrome at Wadebridge is purchased by West Cornwall Cinema Ltd. and renamed "The Regal"

1945

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

1947

Ron Williams along with others, purchase ‘The Cinedrome’ in Padstow.

1950's

The Capitol Theatre, St. Austell hosts popular musical theatre shows to capacity audiences.

1959

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

1963

Bingo arrives in St Austell at The Capitol Theatre.

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1966

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

1967

The Regal Cinema, Wadebridge is purchased by David Williams.

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1967

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

1967

The Odeon, St. Austell is purchased by Classic Cinemas.

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1974

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

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1974

Negotiations begin with Classic Cinemas regarding purchasing the Classic / Odeon Cinema in St. Austell

1977

WTW Cinemas makes its first offer to purchase the Plaza Cinema, Truro - This offer is rejected.

1978

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

1980

International Superstar & Entertainer "Sooty" along with Sue, Sweep & Harry Corbett visit The Capitol Theatre, St Austell & The Regal Cinema, Wadebridge.

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1981

The Capitol Theatre closes as a cinema, it remains in use as a full time Bingo Hall

1981

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”.

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1986

A second auditorium is added to the Regal Cinema, Wadebridge towards the rear of the building in the old stage area.

1986

WTW Cinemas sell The Capitol Theatre, St Austell.

1988

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

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1991

The FilmCentre, St. Austell creates two extra screens, making it Cornwall’s first five-screen cinema. The rear stalls area is divided into two screens, each seating 70 persons.

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1996

The FilmCentre, St. Austell recieves a plaque from the British FIlm Institute to celebrate 60 years of continious cinema shows. - Plaques are also presented to The Regal Cinema, Wadebridge & The Cinedrome, Padstow

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1996

The Somerset based owners of the Plaza Cinema, Truro are placed into receivership.

1997

The Padstow cinema is remodelled and relaunched again as ‘The Cinedrome’. The design of the auditorium is brought back to its original.

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1997

WTW purchase the bankrupt Plaza Cinema, Truro from receivers. It’s licence is immediately revoked by Carrick District Council. A comprehensive building and modernisation programme is commenced.

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1998

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

1998

The Plaza at Truro re-opens to the public under WTW ownership the opening seating capacities at; 300, 198, 135 and 70.

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1999

WTW Cinemas launches its first website.

2000

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

2005

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

Filming happened to take place at the home of a member of staff at The Plaza – he managed to sneak in a special WTW Cinemas prop….

2006

The FilmCentre, St. Austell celebrates its 70th Birthday.

2006

The Plaza at Truro is voted the Best UK Independent Cinema, at the RAAM International Cinema Conference in Glasgow.

2007

The Filmcentre, 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.

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2007

Work starts on the foundations on a new cinema for St. Austell.

2008

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

2008

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.

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2009

The Plaza at Truro is voted the Runner up in the Best UK Independent Cinema, at the RAAM International Cinema Conference.

2010

The Cinedrome, Padstow is sold by WTW. The buildings remains in use as a electronic testing centre and the foyer as a cafe.

2010

WTW announce a new cinema for Newquay.

2011

The White River Cinema, St. Austell is voted the Best UK Independent Cinema, at the RAAM International Cinema Conference in Grovenor Square, London.

2011

"Lighthouse Cinema, 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.

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2013

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

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Director Richard Curtis (Left) pictured with WTW Cinema’s David Williams

2013

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

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2013

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.

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2013

St. Austell, Truro & Wadebridge commence live satellite transmissions of theatrical shows, concerts, opera and ballet.

2013

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.

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2014

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.

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2014

Live Satellite transmissions begin at the Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay.

2014

The Plaza at Truro screens for the first time "Monty Pythons Life of Brian", after being banned by Carrick District Council over 30 years previously to a sell out audience.

2015

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

2015

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

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2015

WTW Cinemas celebrates its 70th anniversary.

2016

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

2016

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

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2016

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.

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2017

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

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2017

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

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2018

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

2018

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

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2019

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

2019

WTW become majority shareholders in WTW-Scott Cinemas. The new company comprises cinemas in Bristol, East Grinstead, Bridgwater, Barnstaple, Sidmouth, Newton Abbot, Exmouth, St Austell, Newquay, Truro and Wadebridge.

2020

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

2020

Cinemas are closed for long periods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to financial support from The British Film Institute and the Government Furlough scheme, all staff and suppliers are paid on time.

2021

The pandemic closure allow the Regal Cinema, Wadebridge to re-furbish both screens with contractors and management working throughout to open again in May 2021.

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2021

The closure period also allows the Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay to replace their exterior cladding.

2021

Work begins on the new WTW-Scott 7 screen complex at Bridgwater Northgate.

2021

Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay holds the UK premiere of ‘Fisherman’s Friends: One And All’ with stars and singers enjoying themselves on the red carpet.

2022

The music video for "Fisherman's Friends - Hi Ho Silver Lining ft. Imelda May" is filmed at The Regal Cinema, Wadebridge.

2022

Screen 4 at The Plaza at Truro is completely re-seated with comfortable reclining seats.

2022

WTW-Scott opens the new Bridgwater Cinema for the first time to favourable reviews.

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2022

Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay installs the first 4K Laser projector at WTW Cinemas, enabling high brightness & HFR 3D, as well as featuring energy savings in time for Avatar: The Way of Water.

2023

The WTW - Scott site, Savoy Exmouth is renovated.

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2023

WTW celebrate 25 years at The Plaza at Truro. 25 year long service awards are presented to Will Burt (St Austell), Robert Williams (Wadebridge), Matthew Humby, Mark Connaughton (Truro) and Matthew Philp (Newquay).

2023

The new Bridgwater 7 screen cinema receives a nomination for Best UK Cinema at the ‘Big Screen Awards’ at The Barbican in London.

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2024

Improvement work continues at the WTW-Scott Barnstaple Cinema with new carpets, seating, lighting etc.

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2024

The Regal Cinema, Wadebridge installs a new Barco Laser Projector in Screen One.

2024

The Atrium Cinema in East Grinstead leaves the WTW-Scott group and is purchased by Kevin Markwick of The Picture House Uckfield - also in Sussex.

2024

The Plaza at Truro begin a series of Laser Retrofits to its existing projectors.

2024

WTW Cinemas launch its first customer membership scheme.

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2025

The South West Premiere screening of "The Salt Path" was held at The Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay

2025

WTW Cinemas approach 80 years in the cinema industry.