The NEON facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newport Odeon |
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Grade II listed building
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NEON in early 2016
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Art deco architecture |
| Town or city | Barnardtown, Newport |
| Country | Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°35′29″N 2°59′26″W / 51.591474°N 2.990636°W |
| Completed | 1938 |
| Renovated | 2003 |
| Client | Odeon Cinemas |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Harry Weedon |
The Newport Odeon is a special building in Newport, South Wales. It used to be a cinema and later a place for concerts and events called The NEON. This building is important because it's a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected for its history and unique Art deco design. You can find it in the city centre, close to Newport Bridge. It is one of the few real examples of Art deco style in Newport.
Contents
A Look Back: The Building's History
From Cinema to Entertainment Venue
The building first opened its doors in March 1938. It was an Odeon cinema, designed by a famous architect named Harry Weedon. People came here to watch movies for many years.
However, the cinema closed in 1981. For a while, the building was left empty and unused. There was even a chance it might be torn down. But in 1999, it was officially made a Grade II listed building. This helped protect it from being demolished.
A New Chapter: Newport City Live Arena
After being empty, the ground floor of the building was used as a snooker hall for some time. Then, in 2003, a local couple bought the building. They spent over £1 million to make it new again. It was renamed the Newport City Live Arena.
This new venue had a huge television screen. It was used to show live sports events. There was also a stage where many famous music acts performed.
The NEON: Music, Politics, and Wrestling
The building was sold again and updated. In February 2016, it reopened with a new name: The NEON. This name stood for "Newport Entertains Our Nation." It was a clever play on the original Odeon name, which meant "Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation." The NEON became a popular place for live music and showing old movies.
In 2019, The NEON hosted a large political gathering. Over 1,000 people came to hear speakers from the Brexit Party. Important figures like Nigel Farage and Ann Widdecombe spoke to their supporters. This happened before the 2019 European Parliament elections.
The venue closed in December 2023. However, it reopened in May 2024. Now, it is a wrestling academy, where people can learn and practice wrestling.
See Also
- Odeon Newport, history at cinematreasures
