WITH the imminent arrival of a city centre multi-screen cinema as part of the long-awaited Friar’s Walk development, I can’t help but cast my mind back to the good old days when Newport could boast 10 cinemas.

In those days, of course, couples did their courting in the back row of these palaces of entertainment! Pill had the Plaza and the Gem. Clarence Place had the Coliseum and the Odeon (still standing). At the bottom of Stow Hill was the Tredegar Hall and at the top was the Pavilion (opposite St Woolos Hospital). In Dock Street stood the Olympia with one entrance in Skinner Street and in Lower Dock Street was the Capitol. The majestic-looking Lyceum stood proudly in Bridge Street and last, but not least, was Maindee Cinema, oddly enough, in Maindee.

It would be lovely if someone could put a book together commemorating all those old picture palaces, maybe with a section on people’s memories.

Mrs F Oakendon, Warwick Road, Newport