Public meeting to be held on future of Redfield Cinema during ‘critical’ time

A public meeting is being held to discuss the future of Redfield Cinema during what campaigners of Save Redfield Cinema campaign group have described as a “critical moment.”

The 110-year-old cinema currently sits dormant at the back of the former St George’s Hall pub building on Church Road.

The campaign group, which has been working with MA Architecture students from UWE to create a plans for the space, has an alternative vision to the application recently resubmitted by private owner and developer, Landrose Group to turn the building into a 44-bed shared living space or HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation).

? PUBLIC MEETING ? Bethesda Church Friday 13th Jan from 6.30-8pm Hear the results of the public consultation, the outline vision, and practical next steps for fighting this development, and working towards something better for the whole community. #SaveRedfieldCinema #BS5 ?️⚡ pic.twitter.com/JmLX7adpaw

— Save Redfield Cinema (@CinemaRedfield) January 6, 2023

Landrose’s previous application for the space to be turned into a HMO received 1,000 objections after it was submitted and was subsequently withdrawn, according to campaigners.

The campaign group, which has held a number of events for the community to get together and share their ideas, has a vision for the 750- seat art deco cinema to be turned into a community space with a three-screen cinema, a community food hall, a venue for events and meetings and a housing provision.

Save Redfield Cinema campaign group is hosting the meeting on Friday, January 13 at Bethesda Church on Church Road in a bid to save the space for community use and enjoyment.

At the meeting UWE students will present information gathered from previous consultation meetings and highlight their findings and conclusions. The students have also produced a scale model of the building, to ensure plans are structurally possible.

(From left to right) Krishnaj Krishnankutty, Emma Ansell and Toby Grimwood-Snook have produced a scale model of the building – photo: Rachel Sutherland

The campaigners, who are urging as many people as possible to attend, will provide an update on the vision for the building and details on the next steps of their campaign.

The group, which is made up of passionate local people, said in a statement: “Once this space has been permanently removed, it can never be taken back again, and it will stop the continuing positive evolution of the Church Road high street, which has the potential to become the next Old Market, North Street or Gloucester Road.

“Simply put, the local community do not want the development in its current form, and the people of east Bristol deserve better.

“We are a group of locals who have come together to prove the validity of saving and operating the site as a cinema, events space and community kitchen – a cultural hub for all of us in this diverse area. Among us already are people with decades of expertise in cinema operations, planning, architecture, business and CIC governance models, project management, communications, film production, youth work, catering and more.

“The team continues to grow and all are welcome to get involved. We particularly welcome further partnerships with people and groups who feel under-represented in the area.”

A public meeting is being held to discuss the future of Redfield Cinema on Friday – photo: Marianne Mooney

To date, more than 9,800 people have signed a petition calling for the cinema, which is largely intact despite the fact it closed its doors as a functional cinema back in 1961, to be saved.

The public meeting on the future of the cinema will take place on Friday, January 13 between 6.30pm – 8pm at Bethesda Church on Church Road, Redfield.

Main photo: Rachel Sutherland

Read next: 

• Opinions wanted on future of historic cinema 
• Stephen Merchant and his dad back Save Redfield Cinema campaign 
• Cinema still part of plans for former Wetherspoons 
• St George residents demand redesign of ‘notoriously dangerous’ crossing

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