The Empire Cinema in Sutton Coldfield shut its doors due to the second nationwide coronavirus lockdown in November 2020 and has not reopened.
Last month its owners revealed bombshell plans to sell off the venues carpark to developers McCarthy and Stone who want to build a 43 apartment retirement complex.
Empire cinemas have issued a statement saying that they intend to use the funds generated by the sale to refurbish the Grade II – listed Art Deco cinema and make it fit for the 21st Century.
Cinema goer Richard Haynes who like many of us me included has been using the cinema since childhood has said he is determined that the venue be reopened for its intended purpose. He has set up a campaign group, Future of Cinema in Sutton Coldfield (FoCiS), which wants to work ‘positively’ with Empire Cinemas to preserve its long-term future in the town. But if that falls through, his group is considering registering the venue, which first opened in 1938, as an asset of community value, as an ‘insurance policy’ to get first refusal with any sell-off.
What’s on In Sutton Coldfield will certainly be supporting Richard in his campaign.
Picture Credit – Cinema Treasures
