News / redfield
Stephen Merchant and his dad back Save Redfield Cinema campaign
Ron Merchant has credited a historic cinema in Redfield for changing his life as he made an impassioned plea for it to be saved.
His son, Stephen, famed comedian and creator of BBC hit series The Outlaws, has also added his backing to a campaign to save the old picture house hidden in a former Wetherspoons on Church Road.
Developers have outlined plans to include a “community-run boutique” 20-seat cinema as part of the ground floor plans for the former St George’s Hall pub, which they hope to turn into 14 flats, a gym, taproom and shared workspaces.
is needed now More than ever
But campaigners want to see the original 750-seat art deco cinema, which is largely intact despite closing in 1961, restored and a petition calling for it to be saved has gained more than 9,400 signatures.
Adding his weight to the campaign in a video, Ron says it must be saved for the future and to keep the “magic” of the cinema alive.
“Certainly, the cinema changed my life and I guess I owe it to the Granada, which got me interested in it because my son has also got the habit from me of cinema.
“In a way I guess I’ve gone from Redfield to Hollywood in a generation surely, I suppose, because of the Granada.
“When I found out about the cinema still existing, I really thought what a wonderful opportunity for all of us. It needs to be saved for the future and the atmosphere that is still there.
“I’d like to think we could now give the opportunity to the local people of Redfield to create a community asset that will be such a benefit for everybody.
“You need to keep people together in the community and the only way you can do it is to bring people together. It’s so vitally important.”
Adding his support, Stephen re-tweeted the video, saying: “My dad (from whom I inherited my love of film & TV) speaking passionately about why we need to #SaveRedfieldCinema in Bristol.”
St George’s Hall Electric Palace opened in 1912, with the cinema extended and renamed St George’s Picture House in 1927, before becoming the Granada in 1935.
It closed in 1961, becoming a bingo hall for around three decades. The foyer area of the site opened as a Wetherspoons pub, St George’s Hall, in 1998.
The former cinema hidden inside a former Wetherspoons closed in 1961 – photo: Ellie Pipe
Main photo: Ellie Pipe
Read more: Cinema still part of plans for former Wetherspoons
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