Keeping Beckenham's cinema

On 25 September 2026 it was announced that the Odeon in Beckenham will close in December 2026, with the new owners of the building, Citygate Church, planning to seek permission to change its use from a cinema to a place of worship.

The news has prompted a huge response from local residents concerned about what the loss of the cinema would mean for Beckenham; both as a much-loved community and cultural venue and for our High Street and local businesses.

As the ward councillors for Beckenham Town & Copers Cope, where the cinema is located, we are working to get answers and explore what options there may be. We have arranged a meeting with Citygate, contacted Odeon about the circumstances of the closure, and made enquiries with Bromley Council’s Planning and Highways teams.

Citygate is currently consulting on its plans for the building, and we encourage residents to have their say. If a planning application for a change of use from cinema to a place of worship is submitted, residents will also have the opportunity to comment formally.

We greatly value the role that churches and faith groups play in our communities. But the loss of Beckenham’s cinema will impact the cultural life of our town and the wider High Street.

A similar situation arose in Crystal Palace some years ago, where a proposed change of use of the former cinema was refused and, some years later, the building reopened as an Everyman cinema. However, every planning application must be considered on its own merits and against the relevant planning policies in place at the time.

The strength of feeling locally has been overwhelming in favour of keeping a cinema in Beckenham.

We will continue to keep residents updated as we learn more.