Willmott Dixon Interiors has started work on the refurbishment of an old art deco-inspired cinema hall in east London.
The refurbishment work on the Grade II former Granada/EMD Cinema in Walthamstow forms part of an £25.6m project to restore the building on behalf of Waltham Forest Council.
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It will be transformed into a 950-seat multi-purpose entertainment venue, with a bar and restaurant.
The Granada/ EMD Cinema was opened as the Granada cinema in 1930.
The scope of refurbishment work includes reshaping the seating and stage to enable live performances with improved sightlines as well as restoring the building’s frontage to its former glory.
Since securing planning permission for the restoration project in June 2020 by the council, Willmott Dixon Interiors has carried out enabling works to prepare the site for the refurbishment project.
The new facility, which is planned to run by Soho Theatre, is expected to open in 2023.
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By GlobalDataWillmott Dixon Interiors managing director Graham Shaw said: “We’re looking forward to delivering a modern, nationally-recognised entertainment venue that honours the building’s unique history and once again provides a popular destination for people to visit.
“It has the potential to create many new jobs and make an important contribution to the local economy.”
Willmott Dixon Interiors team on the restoration project includes Bond Bryan Architects and Aecom as quantity surveyors.
Earlier, Willmott Dixon Interiors completed refurbishment projects at other Grade II properties across the UK. These projects include Stockton Globe, Colston Hall in Bristol, Darlington Hippodrome, Octagon Theatre in Bolton and Eltham Cinema in Greenwich.
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The refurbishment will include reshaping the seating and stage to allow live performances. Credit: Willmott Dixon.
