Located on The Esplanade, towards the east of Bognor Regis Pier. The Kursaal was opened on 4th June 1911, when it was in use as a live theatre for Pierriot shows. The building also contained a skating rink, shops and a tea room. By November 1913 it was operating as the Kursaal Kinema.
In April 1919 it was re-named Theatre Royal, and went over to live theatre use. The Theatre Royal was taken over by a Coventry based cinema chain operated by Harold Philpot, and re-opened as a cinema on 3rd November 1941 with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in “Road to Zanzibar”. In 1947, it was refurbished and re-opened as the Rex Entertainment Centre.
Part time bingo was introduced in 1963. It was re-named Royal Movie Centre in December 1974, but this was a brief return to full time cinema, as it closed on 30th August 1975 with “Confessions of a Pop Performer”.
Text and photo from website Cinema Treasures.
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