The Himalaya Palace Cinema, South Road, Southall, London

Formerly - The Paragon Palace Cinema / Palace Cinema, Gaumont Cinema / Odeon Cinema / Godeon Cinema / Liberty Cinema

Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the Himalaya Palace Cinema, Southall in 2008 - Click to Interact.

The former Himalaya Palace Cinema, which at the time of writing in 2026 is being used as an indoor market, is situated on South Road in Southall and opened with the Himalaya Palace name on the 14th of September 2001 after a £5 million restoration of the original building.

Right - An advertisement for the Paragon Palace, Southall in 1911 - From the Uxbridge and W. Drayton Gazette, 19th of August 1911.

The Cinema was created as a First Run Bollywood Cinema, opened by the Indian High Commissioner, more on this can be read below, but the history of this Cinema and Theatre actually goes back well over a hundred years when a smaller purpose built Cinema called the Paragon Palace opened on the same site in the later half of 1911.

The Paragon Palace Cinema ran successfully for many years, including during the first world war, but in 1928 it was taken over by United Pictures Ltd., along with a number of other Cinemas, and they also purchased an adjoining plot of land with the intention to demolish and rebuild the Cinema on a much larger scale.

The following year the Paragon Palace was closed on the 1st of June 1929 and quickly demolished so work could begin on the construction of a new Super Cinema for United Pictures to be called the Palace Cinema. George Coles was the architect for the new building which was the first new Theatre that United Pictures would build.

The West Middlesex Gazette reported on the Theatre's imminent opening in their 9th of November 1929 edition saying:- 'An army of men are working on the re-building of the old Palace Cinema, Southall, and the management hopes to announce the opening date in a few days.

Left - An Advertisement for the opening of the Palace Cinema, Southall - From the West Middlesex Gazette, 16th of November 1929.

There will be many pleasant surprises for picture-goers on the opening day, as the building and the programme will represent the acme of comfort and entertainment. One of the most striking features of the theatre will be the wonderful system of ventilation by which a constant flow of fresh air is maintained throughout the performance. Comfortable and well-placed seats, and a splendid projection will also add to the enjoyment of a programme that will include sound films, silent films, an orchestra of twenty musicians, selections from a £5,000 organ, and West-end variety turns. There will also be a free parking place adjoining the theatre for 150 cars. The local manager is Mr. Fred Fairleigh, who is well known to picture-goers in this district.' - The West Middlesex Gazette, 9th of November 1929.

Above - An Advertisement for the new Palace Cinema, Southall - From the Middlesex County Times, 23rd of November 1929.

The West Middlesex Gazette again reported on the new Theatre in their 23rd of November 1929 edition saying:- 'The new Palace Cinema, Southall, which will be open to the public at the end of this month, is Chinese in design and colouring and is reputed to be the only theatre of its kind in this country. The general effect of the construction is very attractive, and the interior colouring will be found most exhilarating. Mr. Charles Hutchings, J.P., chairman of the Southall Urban District Council, will formally open the theatre on Saturday evening next, when 1,000 seats will be reserved for the public. These seats will not be available on the night of the opening, but they can be obtained at the theatre on and after Monday next. The opening ceremony on Saturday evening will commence at 7.30, and will be followed by the picture programme at 8 p.m. Visitors from Ealing, Hayes, or Uxbridge can travel via G.W.R. or by bus or tram to Southall Town Hall. Motorists will find an excellent free parking space for cars adjoining the theatre. Lights will not be necessary, and an attendant will patrol the park. The first daily session will commence on Monday afternoon, December 2, when there will be a full orchestra, variety turns, talking and silent films. The price of seats will be: Matinees, 6d. and 1s.; after 4 p.m., 8d. 1s., 3.d., 1s. 1od., and 2s. 4d. Children admitted half price. - The West Middlesex Gazette, 23rd of November 1929.

The Southall Palace Cinema duly opened on Saturday the 30th of November 1929 with a showing of the films 'Blackmail' and 'The Rainbow Man'. The Theatre was large enough for 2,000 people to be seated in comfort and had a large fully equipped stage for the showing of variety performances, 50 feet wide by 15 feet deep, along with a Compton Theatre Organ, played by Henry Wingfield for the opening. A large foyer, almost as wide as the Cinema itself, led into an auditorium decorated in the Chinese Style which consisted of stadium seating reaching back from the front stalls to a higher circle area but with no actual balconies. Colours were predominantly red with gold highlights.

Running successfully for many years the Palace Cinema was however, taken over a number of different operators during its life, firstly by the Gaumont British Chain in 1930 who renamed it Gaumont in 1950, and again in 1961 by Odeon Cinemas. Odeon then closed the Cinema in 1971 and it was leased to an Independent operator which began showing Bollywood films there as the Godeon Cinema, later to be renamed the Liberty Cinema, but still showing Bollywood films in 1972.

Closing in 1982 the Liberty Cinema was then then left empty for a while before being converted into an indoor market but retaining its auditorium, protected by a false ceiling and false walls. This would eventually culminate in the Theatre being restored in 1999 after it had become a Grade II* Listed Building. Restoration included repainting it in its original colours but the Theatre was also split into three screens, two in the former circle area and one large screen in the former stalls.

Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the former Himalaya Palace Cinema, Southall in 2020 - Click to Interact.

It reopened as the Himalaya Palace Cinema, showing first run Bollywood films, on the 14th of September 2001 after its £5 million refurbishment. Sadly however, it was not to last long and in March 2010 it was closed again. The Auditorium was opened back up and the building was converted back into an indoor market, and so it remains today.

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