This is the ABC cinema on Newport's Bridge Street.

This faceless, featureless brick box stood on the site of the iconic Lyceum Theatre. The 'Then' photo dates to the opening night of the ABC which was showing Tommy Steele's "Half a Sixpence".

The cinema opened on the 28th November 1968 replacing the Olympia, prices were - front stalls 5/- (25p), rear stalls 6/6 and OAPs could get in before 4pm for 1/3d by showing their pension book. The opening ceremony was performed by the Mayor Alderman WC Huckle.

During the interval you could refresh yourself with a Lyons Maid ice cream. After the cinema closed the building was used for a number of businesses and now is a hotel. Opposite was the Queen's Hotel but now is a Wetherspoon's.

Dave Woolven, Newport

Had some great times at the ABC cinema, my mother worked in there for over 15 yrs in the 60s and early 70s. When you got in you had to pay on the left then up the steps then right in front of you was the food counter... .kia ora and a hot dog, I remember when Jaws came out, waiting for ages right round the back of the building , but like everything else in Newport just memories and happy times.

Mike Bennett

This is the old cinema in Bridge Street which became a hotel a few years ago. I loved taking my son to this cinema, and it was cheap. All different now with a trek over to Spytty, although I think we are going to have a cinema as part of Friar’s Walk project.

Catherine Evans

South Wales Argus:

The Lyceum Theatre, which used to stand on the site occupied by the ABC Cinema

The picture shows the fairly new Travel Lodge Hotel which replaced the cinema opposite the Queen's Hotel. Not sure which was the best, but I know they were both on the site of that marvellous building, The Lyceum. This was destroyed for the sake of progress which is very sad for the city.

Jim Dyer, Newport

The Now and Then picture is of the ABC cinema which used to be the Lyceum theatre, it has now become a Travelodge hotel. When the Lyceum was there there used to be a brewery opposite called Phillips where I used to work. Opposite was John Davies’ solicitors and an estate agents.

Also in the area was the Queens Hotel and a china shop called Cisseries and The Lamb hotel, post office and also a shop called Ferris.

Mrs M Reardon, Newport

The Now and Then photograph shows a building which is presently a Travelodge hotel and previously it was a multi-screen cinema, and before that the Lyceum theatre.

Brian J J Jelf, Newport