Regent Theatre
Join us in working to restore this wonderful building, and to make it a true community asset again.
An Historic Theatre - and its future.
The Regent Theatre has been at the heart of Chelmsford for over 100 years.
It was recently featured in a fascinating video by Chelmsford Civic Society.
The challenge now is to find a way to protect and preserve this important piece of Chelmsford's heritage.
This website is an attempt to start the conversation about how we can develop a long term plan for its future, to justify grant funding from the National Lottery or elsewhere, to restore it to its former glory.
In 2026, we hope to establish a community interest company to bring new purpose to the Regent.
Let's Discover
- •What ideas you have
- •How you would like to see the building used
- •What business models could justify restoration funding
A Century of the Regent Theatre
Used with kind permission from the Museum of Chelmsford
Before the Theatre was built, the site in Moulsham Street was occupied by the Cross Keys Inn.
The Regent was designed in 1912 by Francis Burdett Ward, and first opened as a cine-variety house in 1913.
In August 1916, it became a full-time cinema. It had an elaborately decorated auditorium containing a large stalls seating area, single balcony and two bulbous boxes on each side. The whole auditorium was richly embellished with fibrous plasterwork, and seated over 1,000. The proscenium arch was marble flanked and the stage was relatively deep for such a dual-purpose building.
By 1950, the cinema had given way to usage as a Bingo Hall.
And that continued until 1975 and beyond.
By 1997, the site had changed again, becoming a bar and nightclub under the Chicago Rock Cafe brand.
Chicago Rock gave way to Bar & Beyond. This new brand was a key feature of Chelmsford nightlife until the COVID epidemic in 2020.
The Present
In August 2025, Chelmsford Civic Society produced a video guide to the theatre.
Since COVID, the night-time industry has changed dramatically. Currently (as at November 2025) the Regent Theatre premises are open just two evenings each week.
The auditorium is used, but with a violent graffiti inspired decor that is completely out of keeping with the heritage character of the original theatre.
The balcony that once seated 400 patrons is now just a storage area.
With reduced activity, maintenance and reinvestment in the building is clearly a difficult issue for the nightclub operators. While the public-facing exterior still appears presentable, other areas show serious signs of decay.
The Future
The purpose of this website is to begin a conversation:
How do we protect and restore the building?
How do we create a long-term, commercially sustainable future for it?
How can the community participate in developing the restoration plan?
We will be posting ideas, proposals, and community updates on the blog below. If you are interested in being involved—individually or commercially—please do get in touch.
Community Blog
Coming soon — we will begin publishing ideas, updates, and community input here.
Get Involved
This website is a community initiative. We believe it should be possible to find new uses for the theatre that would justify renovation and restoration. Either alongside the existing use as licenced premises, or separate.
There are obviously challenges. But let's start the conversation.
Art cinema? Food hall? Craft centre?
Let's be imaginative, and build a future for the Regent again.
If you'd like to support, contribute ideas, or discuss commercial involvement - please reach out.