Abbeygate Cinema in Hatter Street, Bury St Edmunds, celebrates 100th anniversary with ‘No Time To Die’ screening

A town’s cinema is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary with an extra special screening.

From its humble beginnings in 1924 as a music hall, showing short snippets of moving images to now hosting the biggest screen in town — Abbeygate Cinema in Hatter Street, Bury St Edmunds, has become a beloved part of the town's cultural life.

Much has changed in the past 100 years, projection equipment was digitised in 2010 and the premises has expanded to include three auditoriums, a restaurant and a bar, all while maintaining its mission to bring film and the arts to the community.

Earlier this year, the cinema celebrated its centenary by screening classic films, from Jaws to The Shawshank Redemption, while Pat Church, its longest-serving employee, led historic tours of the venue.

The cinema’s celebrations will culminate with a special screening of ‘No Time To Die’ on Friday, December 6 and there will be a few surprises on stage and screen to mark the milestone.

Gareth Boggis, General Manager of Abbeygate Cinema, said: “We are looking forward to our celebration evening to commemorate 100 years of film on Hatter Street.

“Abbeygate is a special place that has had many people pass through its doors over the years to watch films, new and old, as well as theatre, opera and ballet.”

No Time To Die, starring Daniel Craig in his fifth and final Bond film, was originally planned to be the first film played on the cinema’s Premier Screen in 2020 — until the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the cinema’s screenings.

Tickets for the Abbeygate Centenary Celebration Evening are on sale via www.abbeygatecinema.co.uk/programme/no-time-to-die/ or from the Abbeygate Cinema box office.

Mr Boggis added: “We are looking forward to welcoming many of our members, patrons and friends of Abbeygate Cinema to celebrate on Friday evening.”