Sep

‘Sleeping Beauty’ cast has a very local feel to it!

Tags: Christmas 2020, Panto, Sleeping Beauty, The Deco, The Old Savoy

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There’s very much a local feel to ‘Sleeping Beauty’, this year’s Deco Panto, thanks to singer and dancer Fern Roach, dancing specialist Andrzej Mialkowski, BBC Northampton presenter Wayne Bavin, and comedian and entertainer Mark Jones lining up in the cast.

Fern, who was born and bred in the town, has a senior role for the third year running, having previously appeared as a member of the support cast, while Andrezj, an accomplished dancer, is well known in and around Northampton as the owner of the Henry Street based Step by Step Dance Studio.

Wayne has established himself as a popular afternoon presenter on BBC Radio Northampton since joining the statin in 2018, and though Mark now lives in London, he has a big local connection, having previously lived in Northampton, and being a regular visitor to the town to visit relatives who still live in and around the county.

“We pride ourselves on supporting and encouraging local talent, and we’re very proud of our town, and our county, so we’re delighted with so many local connections in this year’s Panto,” said House Manager Jill Roach, who is also Fern’s mum.

“Fern has been outstanding in her two Panto performances so far, and I’m very proud of her – and she has won her parts on merit, auditioning like everyone else.

“I’m delighted she’s established herself as a Deco Panto regular, along with Chris Wills and Colin Ridgewell, who are also firm favourites with our audiences, and back again this year, as is Lydia Lucy, who previously appeared in 2016, and again two years ago.

“Andrzej has a huge personality, and every time we’ve met him we’ve felt he’s a natural for Panto, so when he told us he’d love the opportunity, and then put himself up for audition, we were delighted,” said Jill. “And we’re certain we’ve discovered another great local stage talent: he’ll be brilliant.

“Wayne and Mark are two highly experienced Panto performers, and great entertainers too, and we’re delighted that they’re making their Deco debuts this year – our audiences will love them, and they’re both really looking forward to being part of our show.”

The Deco Panto runs from December 11th to 24th, and tickets are now on sale. It will last approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, with no interval: just the right length for a festive family treat, but without the traditional break in between because it would make social distance planning a little tricky.

For tickets and full details: https://www.theoldsavoy.co.uk/event/sleeping-beauty-christmas-2020/

Sep

Old Savoy offering a heritage experience with free journey down Memory Lane

Tags: cinema, Heritage Week, Northampton, Singin' in the Rain, The Deco, The Old Savoy

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The Old Savoy theatre is celebrating Heritage Week with a difference this year.

The management team is inviting visitors to come and take a look around the iconic building – rebranded as The Old Savoy last year – enjoy a short talk on the history of the theatre, and if they wish, then enjoy a FREE screening of the classic 1952 film, ‘Singin’ in the Rain.

If visitors wish to make their visit even more memorable, they can enjoy a bite to eat while watching the film: booking a table seat in the stalls, and for £9.95, enjoy a platter of delicious food, and a pot of tea or coffee.

These seats are limited, and available by calling our Box Office on 01604 491005.

If you simply want to watch the film from the circle, without the food option you can book tickets online: www.thedeco.co.uk/events

There will be three screenings each day, between Wednesday, September 16th, and Friday the 18th: at 11.45am, 2.30pm, and 5pm.

The pre-screening talk will be delivered by popular entertainer and local legend Clive Fletcher, who will be familiar with anyone who has come to annual Christmas Panto’s at The Deco, which is housed at The Old Savoy.

“We’re really excited about this,” said house manager Jill Roach. “This is an opportunity to see, and learn about,our wonderful theatre, and watch a famous film as you would have done all those years ago when we were The Savoy.

“The only thing we can’t do is provide entertainment by an organist during the interval, more’s the pity,” she said. “But we’re just trying to do something different, and take our visitors down Memory Lane at a significant town centre venue in Northampton history.”

‘Singin’ in the Rain’ is an iconic comedy-romance, based around the transition from silent to talking movies; it’s full of great music and songs, and legendary for the classic ‘Singing in the Rain’ song and dance routine by the star of the film, Gene Kelly – who was also its co-director. Co-stars included Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor and Jean Hagen.

The Old Savoy opened on May 2nd, 1936, as The Savoy. In the 1960s and 70s it was The ABC, hosting live music as well as screening films. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Cliff Richard are among the legendary acts who performed there.

Stage Right Productions began putting on live entertainment at The Deco Theatre in 2009, and took over the running of the whole building last year.

As usual social distancing and COVID-19 safety guidelines will be observed.

Sep

The Every Brothers – a very local WW2 story and production about three tragic brothers

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The Deco is delighted to be hosting a performance of ‘The Every Brothers’ this November, a poignant story of the ultimate sacrifice made during World War Two by three brothers whose family moved to Roade during the conflict.

It has been written as a stage play by local writer Ron Johnson, and was first performed on the eve of Remembrance Sunday last year at Elizabeth Woodville School to much acclaim. We are delighted it is going to be performed at our theatre on Remembrance Sunday this year, November 8th.

Tom, Jack, and William Every are honoured on Roade’s War Memorial, and the play Ron wrote is based on a collection of documents, phots and letters that were donated to the Roade Local History Society by their family.

The three brothers were the sons of Thomas and Winifred Every, from Paddington, who also had two other boys – one who died in infancy, and their youngest, Frank, who passed away a few years ago.

Said Ron, a volunteer archivist for Roade Local History Society: “When Frank deposited some family papers and photos with us, I sifted through them and realised there was a great story to be told, even though I’d never written a play before.

“It was daunting, but I was convinced the story was well-worth telling so, based on – and utilising – some of the material, which included letters from a POW camp, Press cuttings, and other official letters, the play eventually came about.

“When it was first staged to a sell-out audience last year, we had a standing ovation, and what made it more special was that the cast and crew were all local – either Roade villagers, or from Northampton and Wellingborough.”

Set in Roade, with scenes in a POW camp, Monte Cassino, and the African desert around El Alamein, the play is interspersed with specially selected, and poignant, pieces of classical music, and one song by Bob Dylan.

“I was amazed at the professionalism of cast and crew, who were all volunteers,” said Ron. “The way they brought my words to life left me with a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. In fact I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.”

The Every Brothers will be performed at The Deco on Sunday, November 8th. For tickets, and more details, visit our website: https://www.theoldsavoy.co.uk/event/the-every-brothers/

As usual we will be following social distancing and COVID-19 safety guidelines. Your well-being is paramount at all times, but it’s also very important to us you have a great night out, and enjoy this fantastic production.

Sep

We’re hosting another weekend of great cinema, following a Bank Holiday ‘thumbs up’

Tags: Bambi, cinema, Pitch Perfect, Rocketman, Saturday Night Fever, The Old Savoy, Toy Story

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What a great weekend we had as our theatre went back to its roots and became a cinema for the Bank Holiday. Indeed, the feedback has been terrific – so we’re doing it again later this month!

We’re putting on five iconic films over the weekend of September 26th/27th, and again, there is something for everyone:-

Toy Story
Saturday Night Fever
Bambi
Pitch Perfect
Rocketman

As with Bank Holiday weekend – and, for that matter, with every visit to our theatre – it goes without saying that your well-being will be paramount at all times; all groups coming to watch a film will be socially distanced from others.

Downstairs in the stalls there will be tables for groups of four or six, disabled seating too.
All tables will be placed in a two-metre square area.
If you chose to sit downstairs, you will be able to order a selection of food to your table, including a cheese and anti-pasta platters, or afternoon tea.
You can also order buckets of bottled beer, which can include, if you wish, wines and small bottles of spirits, along with cans of soft drinks.
If you choose to sit in the upstairs seating, there will be two seats kept free either side of your group, as will three seats in front, and three behind each individual

You can also stop by before the film at our newly opened Golden Globe café, serving hot and cold drinks, and a selection of snacks, including pizzas, hotdogs, candy floss, popcorn and more. Again, we have organised this to respect social distancing, and all orders will be taken via our table service.

We will also be selling tubs of ice cream, and calypsos, during the interval.

Schedule:

Saturday, September 26th:

1645: Toy Story

2000: Saturday Night Fever

Sunday, September 27th

1300: Bambi

1530: Pitch Perfect

1900: Rocketman

Ticket prices:

Matinee performances

Table seating

Adult £6.50

Over 60/Student £5.00

Family of 4 £5.00 each

Family of £5.00 each

Family of 6 £5.00 each

Upstairs

Adult £5.00

Over 60/Student £3.50

Family of 4 £3.50 each

Family of £3.50 each

Family of 6 £3.50 each

Evening Performance after 6pm

Table seating

Adult £8.50

Over 60/Student £7.00

Family of 4 £7.00 each

Family of £7.00 each

Family of 6 £7.00 each

Upstairs

Adult £6.50

Over 60/Student £5.00

Family of 4 £5.00 each

Family of £5.00 each

Family of 6 £5.00 each

And finally: you will be expected to wear a ‘face mask’ while inside our theatre – except when sitting at your table if you’ve booked to watch the film downstairs, and have ordered food and drink, or if you’re using the Golden Globe cafe during your visit.

Thank you, as ever, for your support!

Sep

We WILL put on our Panto this year. Oh yes we will!

Tags: Christmas 2020, family entertainment, Northampton, Panto, pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, The Deco, The Old Savoy

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Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a good Panto, and don’t we need to spread plenty of seasonal spirit, fun, and goodwill in December. So we’re delighted to be putting on our Christmas 2020 Panto ‘Sleeping Beauty’, which will run from December 11th to 24th.

Tickets are now on sale for performances up to the 18th inclusive; bear with us for Christmas week, we’ll make an announcement soon, but ticket sales were already high for those performances and we’re still rejigging to keep in line with our social distancing and COVID-19 safety guidelines – your safety and well-being is paramount at all times!

Our will last approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, with no interval: just the right length for a festive family treat, but without the traditional break in between because it would make social distance planning a little tricky.

It’s so sad to see Pantos being cancelled at theatres around the country, and we stand side by side with all the fantastic venues nationwide; before too long we want to see the entertainment industry is thriving once again, as it was, and should be.

And as we said, you’ll all deserve some Christmas cheer, and we’re determined to help deliver it at The Old Savoy, home of The Deco Theatre, and home to top quality family Panto every year.

Again, thank you for your support and goodwill. You’ve been amazing, and we really do appreciate it. For more details about our Panto arrangements: https://www.theoldsavoy.co.uk/christmas-panto-2020-from-team-deco/

Aug

Join us for a nostalgic cinema weekend at The Old Savoy!

Tags: #cinema #TheSavoy #TheOldSavoy #Northampton #BankHolidayWeekend #nostalgia

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We’re delighted to say we’ve completed our line-up for our Old Savoy Cinema Weekend over the Bank Holiday Weekend at the end of this month. And what a cracking line-up it is too, with something for everyone to enjoy: Grease, ET, The Greatest Showman, Mary Poppins, Back to the Future, Bridget Jones Diary, Jurassic Park, Goonies, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Mamma Mia.

Yes, our theatre is going back to its roots for a special weekend journey down Memory Lane, remembering the days when The Savoy, then The ABC, and finally Canon, was a popular town centre cinema. It is now The Old Savoy, home of The Deco Theatre, once again a busy entertainment venue putting on live shows throughout the year. But we are very proud of the theatre’s history, and a Cinema Weekend was a great way of honouring its past.

We’re showing 10 films over the weekend of August 28^th, 29^th, 30^th, and 31^st, and we’d love you to come and join us – as a couple, as a family, with friends, whatever – and it goes without saying that your well-being will be paramount at all times; all groups coming to watch a film will be socially distanced from others.

Downstairs in the stalls there will be tables for groups of four or six, disabled seating too.
All tables will be placed in a two-metre square area.
If you chose to sit downstairs, you will be able to order a selection of food to your table, including a cheese and anti-pasta platters, or afternoon tea.
You can also order buckets of bottled beer, which can include, if you wish, wines and small bottles of spirits, along with cans of soft drinks.

If you choose to sit in the upstairs seating, there will be two seats kept free either side of your group, as will three seats in front, and three behind each individual

We will also be selling tubs of ice cream, and calypsos, during the interval.

So a great weekend of film entertainment planned, a perfect afternoon or evening out for the family, a lovely, nostalgic, trip down Memory Lane for many, and to book your tickets, which go on sale from Friday, August 7, simply go online: www.thedeco.co.uk.

It’s just like old times!

Schedule:

Friday, August 28^th: 1400: Who Framed Roger Rabbit

1900: Back to the Future

Saturday, August 29^th: 1100: Goonies

1500: Mary Poppins

1900: Grease

Sunday, August 30^th: 1400: ET

1900: The Greatest Showman

Monday, August 31^st: 1100: Bridget Jones Diary

1500: Mamma Mia

1900: Jurassic Park

Ticket prices:

Morning and matinee performances

Table seating

Adult £6.50

Over 60/Student £5.00

Family of 4 £5.00 each

Family of £5.00 each

Family of 6 £5.00 each

Upstairs

Adult £5.00

Over 60/Student £3.50

Family of 4 £3.50 each

Family of £3.50 each

Family of 6 £3.50 each

Evening Performance after 6pm

Table seating

Adult £8.50

Over 60/Student £7.00

Family of 4 £7.00 each

Family of £7.00 each

Family of 6 £7.00 each

Upstairs

Adult £6.50

Over 60/Student £5.00

Family of 4 £5.00 each

Family of £5.00 each

Family of 6 £5.00 each

And finally: you will be expected to wear a ‘face mask’ while inside our theatre, except when sitting at your table if you’ve booked to watch the film downstairs, and have ordered food and drink, or if you’re using the Golden Globe cafe during your visit. Thank you for your understanding with this.

Aug

Christmas Panto 2020 – from Team Deco…

Tags: Christmas2020, Panto, Sleeping Beauty, The Deco

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Dear Valued Customer,

Firstly, we hope that you and your family continue to remain safe and well during these challenging times.

We want to share our plans for Sleeping Beauty, this year’s Christmas Panto, and always a special time of the year for us.

As you are all more than aware, we will be required to adhere to social distancing measures this year in order to keep our audience, our staff, and our cast, safe.

This will mean that we will have to make some changes in order to ensure that we comply to government guidance as follows:

• The show will last approx. 1 hour 20 mins and there will be no interval, just the right length for a festive family treat but without the break in between, which would make social distance planning a little tricky.

• There will be a smaller cast and less children taking part as everyone needs to be tested, and have individual dressing rooms and we must keep cast and crew safe and well.

• We will ask you to take you and your parties temperature before you leave home and if you or any member of your party are experiencing any symptoms, however mildly, we ask that you stay at home and we will reschedule your visit.

• Your temperature will be taken on arrival at the theatre and providing everything is within the normal range, you will be directed to your seats, there will be no waiting in bar areas.

• Should we record an abnormal temperature we will ask you and your party to return home and we will reschedule your visit once everyone has had a negative test.

• There will be a one-way system throughout the theatre and the lift will only be for use by guests with a disability.

• We ask that no prams or buggy’s are brought into the theatre.

• Face coverings will be required in line with government directives

• There will be a contactless bag search on arrival we therefore also ask that bags are kept to a minimum.

• In order that social distancing can be achieved we will on the busier dates need to increase the number of performances, it maybe that we have to change the time of your booking, and seats numbers but we will, where possible aim to keep you in the same area that you have booked.

• We ask where possible that drinks, snacks, popcorn, hotdogs etc. are pre-purchased and there will be a number of ‘click and collect’ points throughout the theatre.

• In the event of a ‘local lockdown’ or general directive from Government that the show cannot go ahead we will reschedule your visit to a later date in the run if possible or transfer your booking to Panto 2021.

Finally, we also acknowledge that there will be a number of guests that have purchased tickets and are nervous about attending. Please don’t worry – as a gesture of goodwill, we will reschedule your booking or indeed if some of your party wish to attend and others do not, to panto 2021.

At this stage we will transfer you to the same day that you have booked this year, i.e. the Sunday before Christmas, first night, Christmas Eve, etc. Then, if you need to re-jig later we be more than happy to rearrange once we are back to normal in the New Year.

We will be updating our website, Facebook and all other social media platforms as we begin to re-organise the seating arrangements for guests that wish to join us, and we will be in touch with everyone individually, by email or telephone, if there is something we need to speak to you about.

We are working throughout August, to ensure all guests that have pre-booked are rescheduled/re-seated. During this time, we will close the show for new sales and put back on sale on September 1st.

As you can imagine, it is a mammoth task, as 19 of our planned 34 shows are already over our social distancing capacity.

We thank you, as always, for your understanding and patience during these unprecedented times. It really is appreciated. Your well-being, and that of our staff and cast, are paramount at all times.

We very much look forward to welcoming you back to The Old Savoy, home of The Deco Theatre.

Kindest Regards

Jill and Kevin Roach, and all at Team Deco. See you soon!

Jul

Covid-19 Update 31/07/2020

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As we’ve been saying recently, we’re nudging back, slowly, towards some kind of normality, following the enforced Covid-19 closure. We’ve been busy rescheduling shows, and already have a packed programme for next year, when we’ll all be in need of some good nights out!

Once again, thank you so much for all the patience you’ve shown towards us during these unprecedented times – we pride ourselves on our customer care, and it’s been refreshing that you appreciate the trials and tribulations dealt us due to the lockdown.

So here’s an update of reschedules to our line-up – we have done our best to make sure the shows we had planned this year are moved to a later day, and it goes without saying that your original tickets will automatically be valid for these future performances.

As of today, July 31^st, the following shows have been affected by the crisis, and rescheduled. Please be aware that some rescheduled dates have been further rescheduled, and if the show is not listed below it will be proceeding on the planned date, with social distancing; full details will be emailed to those customers this will affect by August 14^th.

So here’s our updated list…

Seven Drunken Nights – Cancelled. If you haven’t already, please email admin@thedeco.co.ukto commence refund process
Dancing Schools UK – currently rescheduled for November 28th
Cockney Knees up – postponed to 24th March 2021
Johnny Ball Wonder of Numbers – postponed to 15th October
Only Fools and Boycie – originally postponed to 5th September, now rescheduled to 1st October 2021
Number 1 Elton – postponed to January 9^th, 2021
Sound of Springsteen –rescheduled to 25th September 2021
Wizard of Oz – postponed to March 29^th and 30^th, 2021
Ben Hart –now postponed to 26th March 2021
Iain Stirling – postponed to 12th March 2021
Rapunzel – postponed to 31st March 2021
Carpenters Gold – postponed to October 11^th, 2020
Luther Vandross Celebration – postponed to March 6^th, 2021
Dean Friedman – postponed to May 9^th, 2021
Walk Right Back – Cancelled. If you haven’t begun the refund process already, please email admin@thedeco.co.uk
Typically Tina – postponed to September 11^th
Vienna Festival Ballet – Cancelled. Email admin@thedeco.co.ukto commence refund process, if you haven’t already
The Glenn Miller Story – postponed date April 25^th, 2021; to be confirmed
The Beach Boyz Tribute – postponed to June 26^th, 2021
An Evening with Ann Widdecombe – postponed to May 15^th, 2021
The Meatloaf Song Book – postponed to February 27^th, 2021
The Marley Experience – now rescheduled to 30th January 2021
21st June – Twirlywoos – now rescheduled to 29th May 2021
The Sun Records Concert – postponed to October 29^th
Northampton’s Rising Star – postponed to November 27^th
Rabbit Rabbit – A tribute to Chas and Dave – postponed to January 15^th, 2021

Forthcoming scheduled shows, and their reschedule dates…

8th September – The Frock Fairies – postponed to July 8^th, 2021
9th September – Give my regards to Broadway – postponed to July 21^st, 2021
10th September – Forbidden Nights – postponed to July 24^th, 2021
10th September – The Upbeat Beatles – postponed to September 18^th, 2021
18th September – The Stones – postponed to April 9^th, 2021
19th September – 80’s Mania – postponed to September 15^th, 2021
26th September – Alexander O’Neal – Cancelled please email admin@thedeco.co.uk to commence refund process
25th September – Pop up Bowie – postponed to June 14^th, 2021
4th October – Lollypops and Moptops – postponed to June 11^th, 2021
17th October – Stevie Wonder – postponed to April 23^rd, 2021
31st October – UK Pink Floyd Experience – postponed date to be confirmed
7th November – Magic of Motown – postponed to April 16^th, 2021
11th and 12^th November – Wartimes Memories – postponed to November 17^th, 2021
13th November – Wired for Sound – postponed to April 30^th, 2021

Due to the unprecedented level of enquiries we continue to receive, we request that you do not call our Box Office regarding any existing bookings; please email admin@thedeco.co.uk, and we will be in touch, but apologies if our response is not as swift as you’d normally expect from us.

However, if you do need to speak to us direct, our phone line – 01604 491005 – will be manned between 10am and 4pm on a Friday and Saturday. Please leave a message if we do not answer, and we will return your call.

For new bookings all shows can be accessed online at www.thedeco.co.uk.

We have extended our ‘Deposit Only’ Scheme valid on all shows programmed after 1st January 2021, which allows customers to pay a 25% deposit to secure their seats, we then call to collect the balance 60 days prior to the performance date. Please use promotion code ‘Deposit’ to take advantage of this scheme.

We cannot begin to thank you enough for your understanding, patience and continued support during these challenging times, and will aim to keep you all regularly updated, as soon as information becomes available.

Take care, stay safe and we look forward to welcoming you all to theatre as soon as we are able.

Team DECO

Jul

Nostalgic Cinema Screenings!

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We are pleased to announce that we will be rolling back the years and screening films at our theatre once again – for the first time in almost a quarter of a century. Join us from August 28th to take a trip down memory lane.

We’re just completing our line up for a nostalgic weekend over the August Bank Holiday weekend – and under all the current circumstances your safety and well being will be paramount at all times, as will that of our staff.

Seating is changing and all seats will be social distanced – the stalls will be table seating, with service of food and drinks brought to your table, all other seats will be socially distanced and after EVERY use the rooms will be fogged with a sanitiser, ensuring a thorough clean between every use!

We are looking forward to re-opening, come join us during our trip down Memory Lane!

Jun

Treat dad to a special night out at The Deco this Father’s Day

Tags: Father's Day, gift ideas, great night out, live theatre, Northampton, The Deco, The Deco. special offer, treat for dad

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It’s Father’s Day this Sunday, June 21st. So if you’re thinking of a gift idea, we’ve a fantastic offer from The Deco.

Buy tickets ‪for any of our shows – and we’ve lots of great entertainment lined up later this year, and well into next – before next Sunday, and we’ll not only give you 10% off any tickets bought, but we’ll throw in two years free membership of our Silver Friends Membership, worth £60 (it’s £30 a year).

The Silver Friends membership can be gifted to your dad, or you can keep it yourself, just let us know when buying your tickets.

Simply book online (www.thedeco.co.uk), quote discount code ‘Father’ to book your tickets and receive your 10% discount, and to register for your sliver membership. We’ll then call you to finalise your membership – offer’s limited to one membership per transaction.

As a Silver Friends Member of The Deco you get:

* 10% ticket discount for up to 2 tickets per show,
* 10% off food and drink
* 10% off room hire
* Advanced booking – an early bird window for new shows
* A dedicated customer service representative
* Free ticket exchange: you can exchange your tickets up to 7 days prior to the show date.

So give your dad a treat this Father’s Day – what better than a great night out at The Deco!

Latest news and updates

‘Sleeping Beauty’ cast has a very local feel to it!

Old Savoy offering a heritage experience with free journey down Memory Lane

The Every Brothers – a very local WW2 story and production about three tragic brothers

We’re hosting another weekend of great cinema, following a Bank Holiday ‘thumbs up’

We WILL put on our Panto this year. Oh yes we will!

Join us for a nostalgic cinema weekend at The Old Savoy!

Christmas Panto 2020 – from Team Deco…

Covid-19 Update 31/07/2020

Nostalgic Cinema Screenings!

Treat dad to a special night out at The Deco this Father’s Day

The George Harrison Project

Bernie Keith presents Handbag Heaven

Pinocchio