History of the Magnum | TVA History 

thanks for using my comment (1,40) the magnum sadly was doomed the minute the council had control lack of funding and terrible management a sad loss to many peoples memories the portal is a sad badly thought out replacement

Good doc. Interesting and totally agree. My papa opened the Magnum. Jack Carson. His name was on a plaque in the foyer. I asked to get this when it ess being demolished and was ultimately ignored. Really really sad.

It was the best place in the world to me, a 12 year old when it opened. Out of all the comments made by people in the video one stands out, 'it kept the children off the streets'. It certainly did, during the summer holidays I'd go to all 3 skating sessions at the ice rink and take a packed lunch! The place was buzzing from morning until it shut at night. The story going round at the time, the queen WAS waving to Eddy.

Loved The Magnum. So many happy times swimming , playing volleyball , karate and my favourite The Cinema . I always thought the council should have leased the cinema to a chain such as Odeon and their cafe to a franchise such as Greggs , thus lightening the financial burden

Good doc Eddy, enjoyed seeing the old haunts. We went to Magnum 5 nights days a week to ice rink, my teen years spent there with lots of great memories, sad loss to Irvine.

Nice vid, the magnum was a huge part of many peoples lives. The portal as mentioned, has terrible parking issues and a lot of wasted space and the swimming pool is always closed with problems and its limited to when there are no classes. A bit of a shambles really

Oh i remember going as a wain and loved it and last time i went i was about 17 with my now husband. So sad it closed

Loved the magnum when I was younger. Used to go down from Paisley every other weekend for skating and swimming. Was devastated when I heard it was closing. Always wanted to take my own kids. Same with the Big Idea over the bridge.

I remember when it was in its heyday, I used to go swimming and to the theatre. It’s missed!

Loved the place the hours I spent in the skating and swimming, so sad to see it gone every time I drive past I give the empty space a look a must say the same thing the Magnum was there not so long ago, so sad 👏👏

Excellent video

In the (very) late days around 2014 the former ice rink space was home to Ayrshire roller derby (playing on the bare concrete!). I refereed a game there.

I used to go to the Magnum centre when I was a kid. I went swimming & ice skating. I used to go with my family when I was a kid it was amazing. 😊

Amazing video well done everyone… my whole being is because of the magnum . My biological father was a lifeguard and steward… I didn’t know him growning up ,strange thinking I used the magnum 3x a week for 20 odd years . My first partner was a lifeguard also . So if the magnum didn’t exist then neither would I have .

I think that when the Magnum was built, there was a cut-back of funding (or something like that) that stopped them from building the top floor of the Theatre, the Fly Tower. I worked with Borderline Theatre when we put on the first show in the Magnum Theatre. The scene-cloths could only be lifted half way because the building was too short, and we had to figure out a method of lifting the bottom of the cloths up as well, to get them out the way. The winding handle for the curtains (the Tabs) had been made so that you couldn't turn the handle without taking the skin off your knuckles. - I discovered that! A bit of work with a hacksaw and spanners fixed it. 🤩

Don’t use the portal due to zero parking

Hi where can you find the photos of the old concepts that never came to be of the harbour?

Why spend millions on another leasure center when that money could have been spent refurbishing the magnum I had a lot of memories there I met my wife there learned to swim I was there 3-4 times a week sad to see it go 😢

I lived in Kilwinning and a trip to the Magnum was a treat. I've been swimming and played badminton there. It was a fantastic place. It was really sad to learn about its demise, I was 5 when it opened. Great video Eddie! Was wondering if you are related to a Shona Gemmell from Kilwinning?

The Portal is much more accessible to people with varying degrees of mobility. The Magnum was difficult to access and navigate in wheelchairs, or with limited mobility. Having the Portal beside the main bus routes is a definite advantage, making it more accessible for more people.

Suggestion:- Howie of Dunlop was one of the biggest business' in Ayrshire it had a animal feeds mill in Dunlop and a massive yard in dunlop too they had their own concrete department , fencing and joinery they also had a hand Wilson dog foods and they had a wood place down in Dalbeattie and lianshaw eggs in Stewarton a family run business that saw it demise in 2014 after the 2 brothers decided to sell everything. Just a suggestion

Magnum skating with my daughter to Walk like an Egyptian what a laugh !

I feel the portal is a disapointing downgrade to the town. People say the sitecat volvo could have stied another venue like the magnum. Irvine is no longer spoken about due to closure of the magnum. The portal is poorly maintained. The pool is not fit for purpose. Showers are poor maintenance is poor and parking is shocking.

The Portal is just a downgrade.