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Spring Brewery c. 1900

14 Chesterton Road, Spring Brewery, Tivoli Cinema

History of 14 Chesterton Road

The brewery was founded about 1855 by James Dyson.

1880 sold to C Preston.

The owner of the Spring brewery which predated the Tivoli cinema was James McCallan Preston. He sold it to the brewer E Lacon in 1898 for £38,000.

1900

Spring Brewery circa 1900

1925

Most of the brewery buildings were demolished and the Tivoli Cinema, Cambridge’s second purpose built cinema, built in 1925. The architect was George P Banyard. The lower end of the cinema was reputed to flood when the river level was high.

The Tivoli, Chesterton Road

Tivoli cinema 1926 (Cambs Collection)

The photo shows the advert for “The Desert Flower” with Colleen Moore. The Tivoli Cafe is next door.

Tivoli and the Boathouse

Cambridge undergraduates have punch-up with anti-war activists outside The Tivoli Cinema – November 1933

1936, Blue Book

1939-1945

The Little Theatre, Chesterton Road was HQ ‘D’ Coy 5 Cambs Bn

1956

The Tivoli closed in 1956 and after a period as a warehouse became the The Exchange restaurant and health club.

14 and 14a Chesterton Road

1962

The New Spring public house

(14a) Arthur Conder, hairdresser

14 and 14a Chesterton Road

1963

Tivoli Cinema in 1963, Flinders electrical wholesaler. Subsequently converted into fitness centre and then a pub.

There was a major fire at the premises in 2015.

Information about the restoration can be found here:

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/36849

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