Opening on Boxing Day 1931 as the ‘Regent Super Cinema’, the Regent was built for local solicitor Thomas J. Rowley – who is responsible for other buildings, such as the Talbot Shopping Parade in Winton. Built for a measly £25,000, the Regent provided employment for locals and held the possibility of being sold to a cinema chain for a profit. Initially, the Regent seated around seven hundred and directly competed with other local theatres, such as the Pavilion.

Over the next fifty years, the Regent was taken over by multiple companies, though this allowed for necessary refurbishment to take place. Under the guidance of architect company Seal & Hardy, the cinema was given an Art Deco makeover, adding to the cinema's glamorous charm. In 1973, the Regent closed and only survived being demolished by becoming a Mecca Bingo Hall and social club. The colour scheme of the cinema was changed to pink and green, as was custom for Mecca Bingo buildings.

Mecca Bingo vacated the building in 1982, leaving the Regent in the hands of the council. The local council were persuaded by a group of soon-to-be-volunteers to use the venue for its original purpose. Now, the Regent is council-owned but is run by a trust, with the help of a group of passionate volunteers and staff. Profits made are sent back into the trust to help the further development of the theatre. The building has recently been restored to its Art Deco glory, and even an extension has been built to allow more room for dressing rooms and rehearsal spaces.

The Regent now welcomes over 100,000 visitors a year. The Regent has a collection of cinema memorabilia and artifacts which it plans to exhibition in a public space soon. Keep an eye out for this!

The Regent is the first stop on the Christchurch Cultural Trail, which takes you along the High Street and down the river Avon to the picturesque Quayside.