Beckenham campaigners fighting to save the town’s historic Art Deco cinema from becoming a church are still hopeful a new operator will come forward, despite the current owners saying no cinema companies have expressed interest.
Friends of Beckenham Cinema believe there’s still hope the iconic art deco building that’s been a cornerstone of Beckenham town centre for nearly a century can remain a movie theatre.
The campaign group formed after Citygate Church—owners of the theatre that opened as the Regal Cinema in 1930— announced plans to convert the six-screen cinema into a single auditorium place of worship.
Citygate, whose current home is just across the road, has stated cinema operators were approached after Odeon agreed to terminate its lease but no offers have been made to take on management of the cinema.
Friends of Beckenham Cinema is fronted by Beckenham residents Nicola Ouzman and Owen Oakeshott who formed the campaign to spread the word of the church’s plans and to garner support in keeping the Grade II listed building as a cinema.
Nicola’s personal connection to the cinema stretches back almost a century. Her grandparents had their first date there in the 1930s.
She herself moved to Beckenham from Peckham 20 years ago. Nicola described the cinema building as an “extremely iconic” part of Beckenham.
She said the support for their campaign had been “overwhelming”. The change.org petition has received nearly 13,000 signatures and over 16,500 shares. Nicola explained: “I think it comes back to the fact that it just means so much to so many people.”
Owen Oakeshott moved to Beckenham with his family 10 years ago, and he was instantly struck by the art deco cinema at the bottom of Beckenham High Street which he now walks to from his house. He said: “It’s such a pronounced part of the landscape. You see it, you can’t not see it.”
Owen said the key driver behind the campaign was making sure the views of Beckenham residents were heard. He said: “This is a building that we use regularly and have done for nearly 100 years. You don’t just get to take that away.
“There has to be that full, proper process. Proper questions have to be asked and the town, Beckenham, and the surrounding wards need to be brought into that process. Our job as a resident’s organisation is to basically channel that.”
When campaigners realised they would need money to fund various surveys to lodge a proper objection to the upcoming planning application, a GoFundMe was launched that has since gained nearly £10,000.
Owen said: “That is a clear indication of the strength of feeling, and that is something we can take to the council and say, this is how strongly people feel about it.”
Both Owen and Nicola are also hopeful this “strength of feeling” will attract cinema chains to come to Citygate with an offer to take over the soon-to-be vacant theatre.
There has been no direct contact between the church and the campaign, but Friends of Beckenham Cinema said they would be happy to have an open dialogue with Citygate.
Owen said: “We are not anti-faith or anti-church. It’s nothing to do with that. It’s about preserving the cinema. We have no animus with Citygate and we wish them well in their hunt for a new home.
“There are loads of buildings in Bromley. In Beckenham, there is only one cinema. It’s not about us having some atavistic dislike for the church or for any church. It’s about preserving the cinema for the people.”
The campaign is worried that high street businesses would miss out on footfall throughout the week if the building became a church. Nicola and Owen are also concerned it would be a social loss for families, young people and senior residents.
Nicola’s 73-year-old mother regularly attends the cinema’s silver screenings and Owen’s teenage son goes to the cinema with his friends.
Owen said: “Whatever the church can bring, the cinema provides entry and access to anybody of any faith, of any persuasion, for the price of a ticket. Once that gets taken away, that’s not something that is very easily replaced.”
The campaign is hopeful another cinema operator would be interested in taking the vacant cinema over once Odeon closes at the end of next month. Owen: “To say this is a fait accompli and it can’t possibly be a cinema is nonsense.”
However, the church has reaffirmed that no cinema operators have been in touch about taking over the building since Odeon announced it was closing on November 29.
A representative for Citygate said: “Odeon made the voluntary commercial decision to surrender their lease, which had many years left to run. Other operators have been approached.
“We will supply full documentation on this to Bromley Council as part of the planning application. So far, there is no interest from any other operator.”
Although Odeon initially said Citygate asked them to vacate the building due to the repurposing plans, the cinema chain since changed its stance and said it had entered a “voluntary commercial agreement” with Citygate to end its lease.
In a statement provided to MyLondon, Odeon said: “Odeon Cinemas has entered a voluntary commercial agreement with its landlord and will cease operating from the Beckenham cinema at the end of November 2026. The cinema will continue to welcome guests as usual until then.
“We would like to apologise to our guests for any inconvenience this will cause. Supporting our team is our number one priority, and we will look to secure roles for as many affected colleagues as possible at our other cinema locations.
“We have been proud to serve our guests at Odeon Beckenham and to have brought years of film magic to the local community.”
Citygate is yet to submit a planning application for the building’s proposed change of use, but as part of its proposal it will restore the building’s original single auditorium as well as uncover and enhance its listed art deco interior features. This application is expected to be submitted within the next few months.
The church said the larger premises would better accommodate its growing congregation and it would welcome all members of the Beckenham community to take part in church activities.
Citygate has encouraged Beckenham residents to take part in its consultation where it will consider whether the building could be used by the community outside of church activities. To find out more about the church’s plans, click here.
