TO MANY Sotonians it’s more than just a building - it’s a seemingly bottomless trove of happy memories, a place where emotions often ran amok - from sorrow to joy, awe to contempt.

Now, after 29 years of inducing thrills, laughter and tears, Cineworld have announced plans to shut their Southampton picture house on August 9, 2018.

It all began when TV star Anita Dobson declared the Ocean Village Cannon multiplex cinema open at a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 20, 1989.

The ex-Eastenders landlady arrived at what was, at the time, the South’s biggest five-screen cinema in a 1909 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost from Beaulieu Motor Museum.

A huge crowd gathered to see Anita and to attend opening night film shows and sample, what was arguably, the world’s best sound system.

Special guests heard music from Fingers and Frets before watching a sneak preview of Lethal Weapon II starring Mel Gibson - almost two months before its UK release.

The other screens were full to near capacity with film fans watching Indiana Jones and Last Crusade, the Land Before Time, Licence to Thrill and Police Academy 6.

Southampton’s oldest remaining cinema changed hands numerous times through the years, first to MGM Cinemas, then Virgin Cinemas and finally Cineworld.

With growing competition from larger and more technologically advanced establishments - Southampton’s oldest remaining cinema will be joining the ranks of the city’s gone-but-not-forgotten picture houses such as ABC, Gaiety, Regal, Empire and more.