Developer of Birmingham's beloved Electric Cinema told ‘act in best interests of city’

Property developer Glenbrook has been urged to “act in the best interests of the city” following fears over the Electric Cinema.

The future of the UK’s oldest working cinema has been uncertain since its closure back in 2024, which sparked a high-profile campaign to ‘save’ the building.

There was fresh anxiety over the cinema earlier this month after firefighters were called to the iconic venue due to a sign being in a “precarious state”.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has since written an open letter to the venue’s leaseholder Glenbrook, raising serious concerns about the “current state of the building” and “how it’s being managed”.

“We’re writing as West Midlands Fire Service had to remove part of the iconic signage at the Electric Cinema due to its condition,” the letter, also signed by Birmingham Council leader John Cotton, read.

“When you previously met with Richard, you were clear in your commitment to protecting the heritage of this building. We took that reassurance seriously.

“The Electric is part of Birmingham’s cultural identity, one of the most recognisable historic venues in the region and is nationally significant.”

Amid such concern over the cinema, a Birmingham councillor at a meeting today urged both Glenbrook and the council to take action.

“I’m aware both the Mayor for West Midlands and the leader of the council have written to the developer, which is Glenbrook,” Coun Lee Marsham, chair of the council’s planning committee, said.

“I believe they have a meeting shortly to discuss further.

“I would say obviously the building wasn’t listed nationally – I do think the council should consider a local listing.

“I know it doesn’t carry as much weight but I think it’s something to consider.

“And I would urge Glenbrook to act in the best interests of the city.

“Either bring forward an application or at least pass it on to someone who might want to do that.”

In their letter, Mr Parker and Mr Cotton called on Glenbrook for an urgent explanation over the ‘current state of the building’, ‘what maintenance and inspection regime has been in place’, and the developer’s ‘plan for restoring its key heritage features’.

It was back in 2024 that Glenbrook provided Brummies with an early vision of what the future could hold for the cinema.

The developer has before said it has ambitions of ‘re-inventing’ The Electric and seeing it survive another century – an endeavour that could be supported through the delivery of built-to-rent homes in a tower block, it has previously added.

It has also insisted in the past that it has aspirations, by working with key partners such as the city council, of seeing Station Street transformed into the “heart of a wider cultural walk”.