Built in 1929-30 for a company registered as Savoy (Cambuslang) Ltd, the backers of which were the same team running the nearby Cambuslang Picture House (later the Empire) which had opened in 1921. These included the house manager of the latter, James Gilroy, and Managing Director James McMenemy, who was a famous Rutherglen-born footballer who played for Celtic, Partick Thistle and a dozen games for Scotland. It was designed primarily as a cinema but with some basic facilities for stage performances, including two dressing rooms and a 26ft x 12ft stage. It was claimed that the motive for a second cinema venture by this team in Cambuslang was perhaps to steal a march on rivals before they did likewise, but to this end, it could only be considered a partial success as ABC opened their Ritz Cinema just along the Main Street on the 12th May 1930. The Savoy eventually opened on the 8th September 1930.
The directors chose the same architect who had designed the Cambuslang Picture House for them, John Fairweather. Fairweather was the house architect for the Green's cinema chain, although this cinema had no link to the Green's. He had designed the Green's Playhouses in Glasgow…
Built in 1929-30 for a company registered as Savoy (Cambuslang) Ltd, the backers of which were the same team running the nearby Cambuslang Picture House (later the Empire) which had opened in 1921. These included the house manager of the latter, James Gilroy, and Managing Director James McMenemy, who was a famous Rutherglen-born footballer who played for Celtic, Partick Thistle and a dozen games for Scotland. It was designed primarily as a cinema but with some basic facilities for stage performances, including two dressing rooms and a 26ft x 12ft stage. It was claimed that the motive for a second cinema venture by this team in Cambuslang was perhaps to steal a march on rivals before they did likewise, but to this end, it could only be considered a partial success as ABC opened their Ritz Cinema just along the Main Street on the 12th May 1930. The Savoy eventually opened on the 8th September 1930.
The directors chose the same architect who had designed the Cambuslang Picture House for them, John Fairweather. Fairweather was the house architect for the Green's cinema chain, although this cinema had no link to the Green's. He had designed the Green's Playhouses in Glasgow (the largest ever in the UK by seating capacity), Dundee, Wishaw and Ayr as well as multiple smaller cinemas such as the Capitol in Ibrox. His trademark style was neo-classical, with massive columns topped by Corinthian capitals along the sidewalls and boxes flanking the proscenium.
The facade of the Savoy has been a landmark of Cambuslang Main Street ever since and was converted to the Vogue bingo hall at some point in the 1960s, although it latterly reverted to the name Savoy. Bingo operations ceased in 2008 and the building was C-listed by Historic Scotland. It was purchased by the Wetherspoons pub chain who lodged plans for a pub conversion but these were shelved and they focused instead on opening a venue in nearby Rutherglen. Inspired by the success of that venue, they revisited the plans and re-submitted an application for the Savoy in 2013. Following refurbishment work, the cinema opened as a pub in January 2015, and was fittingly named The John Fairweather, becoming the only pub we know of to be named after a Scottish cinema architect! It was opened by John's grandson, Iain Fairweather, and the interior contains various objects and information boards on both the architect and the cinema, including a projector retained in the main foyer.
Inside, some changes have been made including the insertion of large windows behind the stage and in the sidewalls, but otherwise the interior remains entirely readable as a cinema. The balcony remains in full view with seating and even dummies representing audience members and a few figures from Hollywood's Golden Age, but is off-limits to the public. Overall, however, the restoration represents a generally respectful re-use of a former cinema building and is now easily accessible for the public to view.
