On 2 Oct 2026 we met with Citygate Church to discuss the future of Beckenham Odeon. Representing Citygate were Pastor Julian Melfi, members of its Board of Trustees and professional consultants advising on the building and proposed change of use. 

The meeting covered the building’s ownership and the early termination of Odeon’s lease - much of which is in the public domain. Odeon sold the freehold in 2014 but retained a lease to operate the cinema until 2038, which required them to repair and maintain the building. Citygate purchased the freehold in March 2025. Odeon and Citygate agreed to end the lease early. It was noted that the building needs significant and costly repairs, following a professional assessment by Citygate.

Citygate’s consultant discussed the challenges facing the cinema industry and the costs of operating older cinema buildings. We were told the building was not openly marketed for sale, although its availability was known within the industry and there were other interested parties.

Citygate acknowledged the strength of feeling locally about losing the cinema. They said they intend to invest in restoring the listed building, creating a single auditorium and securing its long-term future, with the aim of completing the renovation by the end of 2027.

The building would be used primarily as a place of worship, alongside community activities. Citygate said the larger building would allow them to expand the community activities they already provide. They also intend to retain public use of the car park, although this may be restricted on Sunday mornings.

Citygate has sought pre-application advice from Bromley Council, which is common for complex planning applications, and expects to submit a change-of-use planning application in late October or early November. Their consultants told us they are also contacting cinema operators to establish whether there is commercial interest in continuing cinema use. {Important note, local people will be able to have their say on the planning application, whether the Council should permit the building to be changed from a cinema to a place of worship.}

Citygate will have published FAQs covering questions raised by residents on their website, including other property they own in Beckenham and plans for their existing church. We asked whether they were seeking to purchase Beckenham Public Halls, and they confirmed they are not.

Citygate stressed that they want to hear from local people at their consultation event on 10 October, see: https://www.beckenham.site Residents can also submit feedback through their consultation form, which is being managed by their planning consultants, who told us that personal details submitted through the consultation do not go to Citygate.

It was a frank discussion which clarified a number of questions that have been raised locally. At the meeting, we, Libe Dem ward councillors made clear the strength of feeling we have heard from residents, including the sense that the community was blindsided by the sale of the Odeon building taking place without a public sale process.

We explained that an important part of our role is to establish the facts and make sure information about the future of the building is shared openly with residents.

We asked Citygate what they would do to reach out and build bridges with the wider community should their proposed change of use go ahead. We questioned ongoing community access to the building.

We stressed that local people must have the opportunity to make their views heard through the democratic planning process. When an application is submitted, we will make sure residents have clear information about how they can take part and have their say.