A FORMER cinema later used as a snooker hall will be going under the hammer next week.

The Majestic cinema building, in Bondgate, Darlington, has been used as a snooker club for more than 20 years, but after its most recent owners, Rileys, went into administration, the building is being sold off.

The original cinema opened in 1932 and was, at the time, the biggest and best of the town’s many cinemas, but was later taken over by Odeon in 1943.

Around the 60's an attempt was made to modernise it and its art deco facade was covered with metal strips.

However, it continued to lose money and closed in 1981. It was later converted into a snooker club and run as Rileys Pool and Snooker Bar, until its to closed suddenly in November last year.

The four-storey building and freehold is being offered at a starting bid of £89,950 by Pattinson National Property Auctions, and is set to go under the hammer at Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club, in Kingston Park, Newcastle, on Tuesday (January 29).

The ground floor features a snooker hall, bar area, small kitchen, manager’s office and toilets. The cinema area on the second floor is still intact, although the upper floors are in poor condition.

As the building is in Darlington Borough Council’s town centre conservation area, applications to change its use will be considered by the planning authority.

For more details, or to place a bid, visit pattinsonauctions.co.uk