West comic backs bid to save historic cinema
THE Office star Stephen Merchant has backed a campaign to save a historic Art Deco cinema from turning into flats – that has been hidden above a pub for 60 years.
Campaigners are speaking out about their opposition to a developers’ plans to turn Bristol’s Redfield Cinema, originally opened in 1912, into 14 flats and a gym.
Instead, they want the unique arts space – which has been hidden above a former Wetherspoons pub in Church Road, Redland, for over half a century – to be restored and opened for the local community.
And the campaign has now been boosted by the high-profile backing of the co-creator of The Office.
Mr Merchant said: “It’s important to me that our cinema heritage is saved and movies get shown on the big screen.”
The Bristol-born actor and filmmaker added that the building “can do so much more, acting as an events space, community kitchen and cultural meeting spot for the entire area”.
Speaking to the BBC he added: “My TV show The Outlaws is about people renovating a building so that it can become a community hub.
“By coincidence my father Ron is among those fighting a similar battle to save a forgotten Art Deco cinema in Redland and turn it into a uniting space for the people of Bristol. I’m right behind him.”
The comedian said he was looking forward to showing one of his films at the cinema “when it is back to its former glory”.
Stephen also took his support to Twitter and linked to a report of the campaign wrote: “My dad (from whom I inherited my love of film & TV) speaking passionately about why we need to #SaveRedfieldCinema in Bristol”.
According to local reports, the developer hoping to take over the much-loved cinema is Bristol-based Landrose. They previously stated they were listening to local people’s wishes – but were “also being realistic”. Landrose said the changes they wish to implement are relevant to our current social issues, which are “providing affordable accommodation at a time when we have a housing crisis”.
A petition to save the cinema has collected over 9,000 signatures.
The cinema first opened as a silent movie theatre called Electric Palace in 1912. It reopened in 1927 as the Granada cinema with seating for 750 and a full orchestra, before closing down in 1961 to become a bingo hall.
JD Wetherspoon bought the site and turned it into a pub in 1998 before it shut down last year.
The planning application proposes using the space for 14 flats, a gym, communal workspace facilities and a commercial floorspace.
The Save Redfield Cinema group say they want to preserve “a real cultural treasure” and turn the site into a multi-use space for local people.
One individual from the group said they are delighted at the news of Stephen’s support. Posting in the Save Redfield Cinema page, a spokesperson said: “Drawing comparisons between the building being refurbished into a local hub in his hit TV series The Outlaws, and the possibilities here in Redfield, [Merchant] talks about community and the potential the cinema has to be uniting space for the people of Bristol.
“To say we’re chuffed is an understatement.”