Takeover hope for Odeon cinema site (From York Press)

Takeover hope for Odeon cinema site

7:25pm Thursday 30th November 2006 in News By Matthew Woodcock

NEW operators could take over the former York Odeon cinema site by early next year.

But Leeds estate agents Colliers CRE, who have been called in to sell a long leasehold on the art deco building, were remaining tight-lipped about the identity of the interested party.

Spokesman Toby Hall said it hoped to sell the leasehold within the next few months, once a few issues surrounding its Grade II Listed features were ironed out.

He said the likely operators were from the leisure sector.

The building has been marketed by Colliers as a "cinema premises or suitable for alternative uses - subject to obtaining planning and other consents."

The Odeon has stood empty and boarded up since showing its last film at the end of August.

"We've had a varied amount of interest and people have looked at a number of options for the building," Mr Hall said.

"There have been issues over it being a Listed building and what people can do with it to bring it up to modern standards. But we are hoping to agree a deal sometime in the New Year."

Odeon campaigner Tim Addyman said he was "delighted" that new life could be breathed into the building.

"It's good news that they've got a potential buyer and it will be interesting to see what they intend to do with it," he said.

"It will be fantastic if it remains as a cinema because there is a lack of entertainment in the centre of York. There are a lot more people moving into the area but they are expected to go out of the city for their entertainment."

Under a user clause, the building can be used as a cinema, theatre or any other place of public entertainment, and there is a total floor space of almost 20,000 square feet. More than one regional cinema operator has tentatively expressed an interest in taking over the site. Meanwhile, Mr Addyman is planning to take a series of photographs of the Odeon's interior to preserve its history and hopes to keep them in York's reference library.

"It's really important we keep a photographic record," he said.

Mr Hall said Colliers CRE would be happy to accommodate Mr Addyman in his mission.

"We've already had a student shown round the building to inspect it as part of a project, so it won't be a problem," he said.