Work to begin on bringing historic former cinema back into public use

The Adelphi Cinema in Attercliffe, Sheffield, is to be turned in to a mixed-use space for leisure, arts and music.

Opened in 1920, the Grade II listed building operated as a cinema for nearly 50 years including surviving bomb damage during the Second World War.

It closed as a cinema in October 1967, becoming a Bingo Hall with the building then becoming a nightclub in 1995 until 2000. In 2013 the historic building was used as a storage facility.

Sheffield City Council, along with project partners, Kier, are now taking the first steps to transform the building.

Councillor Ben Miskell, chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Today marks a fantastic milestone in the long and storied history of the Adelphi Cinema, a moment when work will begin to bring it back into use for the benefit of the local community once again.

“This building holds a very special place in people’s heart in Attercliffe and rightly so, it was once a focal point.

“Our ambitions for it will see it return to being that focal point with the community at the heart of this project.

“The Adelphi Cinema is over a hundred years old and, once this transformation has been completed, will be around for many more years to come.”

The Adelphi Cinema project forms part of a wider regeneration of Attercliffe including the building of 1,000 new homes at Attercliffe Waterside and the creation of the National Centre for Child Health Technology at Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park.

The restoration work will be carried out by Kier Places, a Kier business which delivers building, workplace, and residential solutions.

The first stage of the project will see the building prepared for the transformation work to begin.

It will include removal of any harmful waste from inside before the whole site is cleaned in preparation for the larger scheme to begin in the spring.

Alan Smith, Kier Places area manager (North), added: “We’re happy to be working with Sheffield City Council on this project, bringing this iconic building back to the life for the local community.

“The first phase of the project has started, clearing all the waste out of the building and getting it to a point where the transformation can begin.

“A big part of what we do in Kier Places is about working closely with local communities whilst delivering on our sites.

“The Adelphi is an exciting project with the potential to have a really positive impact on the area and residents, and we’re looking forward to being part of the building’s new story.”