WHEN the managing director of an Evesham cafe and nightspot carried out a routine fire check he wasn’t expecting to find anything unusual.

But when Glynn Ford, of the High Street’s Amber cafe, kicked through a previously unopened door he uncovered vintage film memorabilia dating back more than 60 years.

Hidden in the cellar room was 1950s merchandise and equipment dating back to when the building was used as a cinema.

Mr Ford said he was gobsmacked to find such an important part of the building’s history. “We first discovered it back in December 2011 in the cellar,” he said. “We were absolutely gobsmacked and excited because it is part of the building and its history.”

The building was converted into a cafe in 2007 and before that was used as a bingo hall.

But originally the building, which dates back to 1942, was the Clifton cinema.

Mr Ford said that over the years the building had been modified and there was no key for the room where the memorabilia was stored leaving it undisturbed for years.

“Over the years bits of the building have been modified. We were in a part of the building which had been used as a screening room. “There was a door we couldn’t find a key for, so I kicked it in and to our surprise there was lots of cinema reels and then we found the cinema advertising boards.

“The boards are huge. After about three weeks we revisited the room and went down with a chap to read the electricity meters. We found another bit of the room and more boards.”

In total, they discovered two information boards, two advertising boards, two film reels, a 1957 programme and toilet boards.

“One information board has all the prices they were charging at the time,” Mr Ford said. “It was three and two pence and to sit in the front was a shilling.

“Another of the film boards dated back to 1957 as it was advertising the Bridge On the River Kwai. We found two boards advertising that film.

“I think the original boards could have been down there since the late 1940s or early 1950s. There were also some old film cans for film reels and another board that tells you which way to get to the toilet. “Upstairs we still have the original cinema seats.”

With the boards stuck in an area of the building now built over, Mr Ford said he would have to remove a number of floorboards to bring them upstairs where they could be enjoyed by all.

“We got the smaller board out to show people,” he said. “But the others are huge. We will remove the floorboards to get them up, but it will be worth it. Then we will hang them on the back wall.

“We have been showing our regular customers and they are gobsmacked, especially as some of them used to go to the cinema. “Everyone thinks it is fantastic. They told us it brings back many memories.”

The cafe is planning to screen the Bridge On the River Kwai and serve refreshments at 1957 prices later this year when all the boards have been brought upstairs.