Final curtain at historic cinema as flats approved

A century-old building at the heart of numerous failed rescue bids is finally set for redevelopment - dashing campaigners' hopes to save it.

The former St George's Hall in Redfield, Bristol, will be extended to create nine shared homes with 42 bedrooms, while retaining a smaller pub on the ground floor.

The plans from developer Landrose were approved by Bristol City Council's planning committee on Wednesday, with six votes in favour and two against.

The latest decision brings an end to years of campaigning by the The Save Redfield Cinema group to restore the site as a community-run cinema and cultural venue.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the venue first opened in 1912 as the St George's Hall Electric Palace, one of Bristol's earliest silent movie theatres.

After closing as a cinema in 1961, it became a bingo hall before part of the building was converted into a Wetherspoons pub in 1998.

When the pub closed in 2021, campaigners discovered much of the former cinema auditorium, including original seating and Art Deco features, had survived.

The campaign group was quickly launched in the hope of reopening, even managing to secure Asset of Community Value status and backing from local residents.

But those hopes gradually faded as redevelopment plans progressed.

Developers first submitted proposals almost five years ago. Earlier versions included a gym and a small cinema, but those features were later scrapped.

A previous scheme was rejected over parking and highway safety concerns before revised plans - including 13 parking spaces - were brought back to councillors.

But Labour councillor Fabian Breckels, who opposed the plans, says allocating 13 spaces for 42 bedrooms risks putting pressure on surrounding streets, where parking is "almost non-existent".

"Bear in mind that we need to build communities, not dormitories," he said.

Green councillor Jenny Bartle, who backed local campaigners, said she was "really disappointed" by the decision, adding "we really wanted to save the cinema".

"After three rounds, [the developer] finally put in an application that the council had no grounds to refuse based on national planning rules," she said.

"Government planning requirements put the profits of developers over the knowledge and needs of local communities."

Bartle called on Andy Burnham to reform planning rules to give more power to local communities over what gets built in their area.

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