Built during the silent era to cater to the fast-growing suburb of Kings Heath, the Kingsway was designed by prolific Birmingham cinema architect Horace G Bradley. It became part of the Essoldo circuit in the late 70s, and then despite a local campaign to keep the doors open it screened its last film in 1980.

Three decades as a bingo hall followed, and then after a period of closure the building was badly damaged by fire in 2011. Now only the frontage survives, and the land out the back has become a craft market and music venue.

During the summer of 2020 it was one of the few places to screen films in Birmingham.