Watch Movies like a Royal at The Regal Cinema
The restored Regal Cinema in Youghal provides a wonderful film-watching experience.
In a time of flux for the worldwide cinema industry, the reopening of The Regal Cinema in 2018 was a great success story for the Youghal community, a seaside town less than an hour’s drive from Cork City. Locals celebrated the restoration of the cinema that originally opened on 15th June, 1936 (replacing Hurst’s Picture Palace, lost in a fire on the same site just the year before). On that day over 80 years ago, the screen was lit up by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, tapping their way through the Irving Berlin musical Top Hat.
Boasting one of the most gallant cinema entrances in the country (the front steps will never cease to excite), The Regal now hosts three cinema screens, with a lush café/wine bar* upstairs, all immaculately serviced by a wonderfully courteous – and friendly – staff.
*At the time of posting, Youghal’s only wine bar.
Movie Town
For those unfamiliar with the location, Youghal (pronounced yaw-ul or simply yawl) is a coastal town to the east of Cork City. Youghal is an anglicized version of the Irish name Eochaill, meaning ‘yew wood’ and has its own Hollywood history. In 1954, the harbour of the East Cork town was completely transformed in order to resemble a New England whaling port for the filming of John Huston’s film Moby Dick. Starring Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab, many locals featured in the film as as extras. The Regal served as a base for the Irish-american director where Huston reviewed the reels every day after filming.
Anniversary
On 5th July 2023, The Regal Cinema celebrated five years reopen since its reimagined doors and screens reopened in 2018. The cinema and community celebrated with a special anniversary get-together in the cinema, with live music on the night and a reduced €2 cinema ticket price for the whole weekend. Here’s hoping for many more anniversary celebrations for the future.
Check out screen times and more over on the official site:
Regal Cinema
Friar Street, Youghal, Co. Cork
P36 DA30
regalcinema.ie
Celebrate the world of cinema with an old-school experience at The Regal Cinema in Youghal. Don’t forget a tipple in the glamorous upstairs wine bar before your selected screening.
Now you’re up to speed with one of Cork’s top cinemas, why not check out its best music halls: Cork – A Guide: Music Venues
