The Capitol (formerly Capitol Cinema)
The Capitol (formerly Capitol Cinema), 11-21, London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3TW
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1253032
- Date first listed:
- 14-Sept-1993
- List Entry Name:
- The Capitol (formerly Capitol Cinema)
- Statutory Address:
- The Capitol (formerly Capitol Cinema), 11-21, London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3TW
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Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2003-01-24
- Reference:
- IOE01/08367/04
- Rights:
- © Mr Richard M. Brown. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1253032
- Date first listed:
- 14-Sept-1993
- List Entry Name:
- The Capitol (formerly Capitol Cinema)
- Statutory Address 1:
- The Capitol (formerly Capitol Cinema), 11-21, London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3TW
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- The Capitol (formerly Capitol Cinema), 11-21, London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3TW
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Lewisham (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 35286 72906
Details
This list entry has been subject to a Minor Amendment on 27/02/2019
TQ 3572
779-/30/10012
FOREST HILL
LONDON ROAD (south side)
Nos. 11-21, The Capitol (formerly Capitol Cinema)
(Formerly listed as Nos. 11-15, Jasmine Bingo Hall (formerly Capitol Cinema))
II
Cinema, later Bingo Hall: built in 1928-29 by J Stanley Beard, a noted cinema architect and garden designer in Art Deco Egyptian style. This cinema was designed for silent films and sound equipment had to be inserted behind the screen in 1929. It was designed to seat 1700 and originally had a Compton organ.
Built of brick with white tiled facade with blue and yellow faience decorations, roof concealed by parapet. Two storeys and attics; seven windows. Recessed centre with five round-headed windows to first floor with stained glass divided by pilasters, behind which was the tearoom. Massive cornice above, then five tripartite windows to attic and pediment with acroteria and decorative bands. On either side are projecting full-height rusticated piers with brackets and torch decorations. End staircase bays have round-headed windows with stained glass to first floor. Late C20 fascia and five double doors.
Interior retains columned tearoom and a complete auditorium with original proscenium with gilded relief figures to pediment and engaged columns at each side, ribbed plastered ceiling with side pilasters and brackets and moulded balcony front. A rare survival of a complete 1920s cinema and the earliest complete cinema by Beard now surviving.
Listing NGR: TQ3528672906
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 436173
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 23-Jun-2026 at 09:08:08.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.