Around 150 people gathered on Saturday, October 10, in Beckenham to demonstrate support for keeping the High Street ODEON cinema open, as the campaign against its planned closure intensifies. The rally comes just weeks before the venue is set to shut its doors for good on November 29, with campaigners racing against time to secure its future.
The petition opposing the conversion of the cinema into a church has now reached 11,544 signatures, according to campaign organisers. More than 100 verified Bromley voters have also reportedly backed a bid to have the building listed as an Asset of Community Value, a status that would give the community a chance to bid for the property if it were put up for sale.
Community rallies to protect historic venue
Zoe Brooks, a local resident with a 12-year-old daughter, described the potential loss as “heartbreaking” and stressed the cinema’s role as a safe, accessible space for young people. She told the News Shopper: “I can book her ticket; she can walk there with her friend, and I know that she’s five minutes away. If we want our young people to feel engaged and away from the harmful effects of social media and little screens, not big screens, then this is a safe space for them to go that’s close to home.”
Brooks warned that losing the venue would be “massively detrimental” to the community and could have a knock-on effect on Beckenham High Street. She said: “It has been operating for almost 100 years, so that is not nothing. That heritage is part of a town’s history. It’s very much part of our local family life. We don’t want our High Street to be a load of vape shops. With the cinema comes another economy, so the businesses, the cafés, and everything that supports that.”
Campaigners clarify stance on church plans
Brooks was careful to clarify that the campaign is not directed against the church that owns the building. She said: “It’s really important to point out that this isn’t anti-church or anti-faith. It’s about keeping the town and the community together. That’s what it’s about.”
Citygate Church, which owns the Art Deco building, plans to convert the cinema into a place of worship. The church is preparing to apply to Bromley Council for permission to change the use of the building, with proposals already discussed with the council at the pre-application stage. Citygate Church has previously said the plans would return the building to a single auditorium and uncover original decoration inside, revealing more of its historic features.
ODEON prioritises staff support
ODEON has stated that supporting employees affected by the closure is its “number one priority” and that it would look to secure roles for as many staff as possible at its other cinemas. A spokesperson said: “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.”
The campaign has also joined forces with Friends of Beckenham Cinema, a local group dedicated to preserving the venue’s cinematic use. With the closure date set for November 29, the coming weeks will be critical for the community’s efforts to reverse the decision and maintain the cinema as a cultural anchor on the High Street.
