Castle Cinema, Swansea

The Castle Cinema, a historical building located next to Swansea Castle, opened its doors in October 1913. It holds a special place in local history, being one of the few structures on Castle Street that survived the devastating Luftwaffe bombing raids during World War II. The building is now a grade II listed structure, which adds to its architectural significance.

Over the years, the Castle Cinema underwent several transformations. In 1963, under the new management of Harry Williams, it underwent a major refurbishment. The cinema introduced new features such as wall coverings, a cinemascope screen, and "kissing seats" in the stalls, aiming to modernize the movie-going experience. However, by the 1970s, the cinema became known for showing soft-core porn films, reflecting a shift in its offerings.

In the early 1980s, the cinema was rebranded as FILMCENTA after being acquired by Circle Cinemas of Cardiff. They upgraded the venue with new projection equipment and Dolby Stereo, positioning it to screen popular blockbusters outside the Rank Organisation’s Odeon chain. Despite the upgrades, competition intensified when a new UCI 10-screen multiplex opened in the town, which eventually led to a decline in the Castle Cinema's audience. After nearly two years of dwindling attendance, the last film shown at the Castle Cinema was Doc Hollywood, after which it closed its doors.

In its final transformation, the building became the Lazerzone, a laser gun combat game and assault course venue, marking the end of its cinematic chapter and the beginning of a new, more interactive entertainment experience.