The Deco first opened on Saturday 2 May 1936 in a blaze of publicity as "the Savoy" described as "Northampton’s only super Cinema[3]" and was reported to be "the last word in comfort".

It was part of the ABC group designed by their prolific house architect William Riddell Glen[4] and built in under 9 months on the site of the original Technical College.

It was constructed in the International Modernistic style and is arguably the best remaining example of Glen’s work[5] with all the main features still in place and sympathetically renovated.

In the 1950s it was renamed the "ABC" in line with the group’s national branding policy and was the local venue of choice for the touring bands of the 60s including the Beatles in both March[6] and November 1963[7] the Rolling Stones in 1965 and infamously PJ Proby in 1965 when he was arrested for splitting his trousers on stage!

A number of the 60s bands have returned to play the Deco in recent years including the Hollies, the Searchers and Billy J Kramer.