Cross Hands Public Hall & Cinema

Cross Hands Public Hall was built in 1932. A beautiful Art Deco building, it was restored to its former glory in 1995 and reopened as a cinema.

The much smaller hall was built in 1906 and established as a Public Hall with the aim of improving the quality of life for the people of the community. The upkeep of the Hall the Miners who contributed 1p from their weekly wages.

The building you see today was originally extended in 1932 and incorporated many ancillary centres at the rear end of the building. Of particular note is the hall’s French facade design which once graced the auditorium ceiling, being Italian in design but, sadly, no longer exists.

In it’s hey-day, the Hall, regarded as one of the finest in South Wales boasted some top actors and orchestras. At it’s prime, the Hall was the main attraction in the area with weekly shows ranging from variety, drama, oratorios and opera. And amongst the leading stars was celebrated actress Sybil Thorndyke and actor Huw Gruffudd; singers Cleo Lane and Johnny Dankworth and the London Symphony Orchestra. Top Welsh comedians Ronnie and Ryan also appeared on stage and local actors who started their careers at the Hall are Ernest Evans, well known as Sgt Jenkins in ‘Pobol Y Cwm’ and Buddig Williams who currently plays ‘Aunty Marion’ on ‘Pobol Y Cwm’.

With the demise of the coal industry and the popularity of television, the Hall slid into obscurity. In 1984 the Hall closed as it fell into disrepair and became the village eyesore. It was in 1991, the then Deputy Mayor, Cllr Bryn Davies, who was continually fighting hard to keep the Hall open, began his quest of securing a grant that would restore the Public Hall to something like its former glory. A £640, 000 grant was made available with thanks to the Welsh Office, Llanelli Borough Council and Carmarthenshire District Council to restore the Hall to its former glory.
The Hall re-opened for the first time on the 26th of April 1996 with a capacity audience. The first Chief Executive of Carmarthenshire County Council opened the Hall to a concert from Cross Hands District Ladies Choir, Cor-Y-Rhyd and pupils from the nearby Maes Yr Yrfa and Gwendraeth Secondary Schools.

Today, the Hall is run by volunteers from the Community. And although it has retained its abilities to host performances, much of the entertainment today is in the form of a Cinema. Cross Hands Cinema again is run by dedicated volunteers, and charges a nominal fee for the viewing of the latest films. Still a popular venue for the community, Cross Hands Public Hall is again a prominent feature of our community.

Cross Hands Hall Management Committee is committed to further expand the uses of this fabulous stage with other nights of stage entertainment over the coming years. The stage was designed to be used, and we feel should continue to be used to its fullest.

With thanks to the late Helen Thomas, of Cross Hands, for parts of the narrative.