Urgent works green-lit for 'at-risk' former cinema

Work is to begin on essential repairs to a Grade II listed former cinema and bingo hall built in Art Deco style.

Rotherham Council has awarded a contractor £451,000 to carry out repairs to the town centre's former Mecca Bingo building, which opened as the Regal Cinema in 1934.

It has stood empty since Mecca Bingo closed during the Covid pandemic, but a council report said doing nothing was "not an option" given the state of the building and the council's legal responsibilities as its owner.

A council report said: "Enabling works are required within the building to ensure that the building remains safe, secure and compliant while a review of future use is undertaken."

Council officials confirmed F Parkinson Ltd had a contract to carry out urgent works to make the building safe, secure and legally compliant, while further feasibility studies into its long-term use were carried out.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the building has been at the centre of debate over redevelopment, with previous plans to demolish it for flats sparking public outcry.

A previous planning application to demolish the cinema and replace it with 45 apartments and retail units was met with strong resistance and halted after campaigners succeeded in securing Grade II listed status for the building.

Richard Gray of the Cinema Theatre Association, which led the listing bid, said it was "a major part of Rotherham's heritage" and praised its Art Deco design and history.

The former cinema, which once seated 1,850 people, has seen several changes over the decades.

According to Historic England, the cinema closed in September 1983 and remained empty until May 1989 when it reopened as Ritz Bingo.

From 2004 it was operated by Mecca and then put up for sale by auction in February 2020 but failed to sell.

The council acquired the building in late 2022 through its regeneration arm, Rotherham Investment and Development Office.

Last year the former cinema on Corporation Street was added to the council's at-risk register in fair (Category C) condition.

While no firm decision has been made on the building's future, the enabling works are intended to keep options open for possible reuse.

No timeline has been given for when a final decision would be made about the building's long-term future.

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