Palace

The Palace, which was opened in 1926 was the brainchild of local Brewery owner J C Palmer. He was interested in the local operatic society, but realising that he could not fill a theatre six nights a week in Bridport, equipped the building as a cinema with stage and dressing rooms. The simple auditorium was rather archaic in architectural design, but was enlivened some time after 1936 with murals of rural scenes painted by local artist George Biles (who painted almost all of Palmer's Pub signs). The murals in the Foyer are all that is left of his work at the Palace, the auditorium walls having been painted out.

J C Palmer’s dream of a small opera house was realised every April when the local Operatic Society took the Palace over for its annual production. A very successful pantomime ran every January from 1950.

In 1999, the Palace closed as structural work was deemed necessary. A Friends group was immediately formed with a view to raising money for the necessary works in order to re-open. The building was at this time spot-listed.