Bradford Odeon

Bradford Odeon closed as a cinema in the year 2000.

Planning permission for demolition of the building was granted in November 2001 but the building is still (thankfully) standing, due in large part to campaigning by the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group,  a group whose aims are shared by Bradford Civic Society and the Theatres Trust.

There have been various changes of ownership of the Odeon during the period in question, which makes the recent history of the building a rather confusing saga. However, an important point to note is that, despite earlier claims to the contrary, a structural survey in June 2008 found no major defects. Internal photos taken by `urban explorers` during the period 2006 - 2008 show a building in a state of neglect as one would expect but also highlight many features that to my mind would be worthy of preservation.

I`m planning to ask the BORG if I can use a couple of pictures from their site to illustrate this article, but in the meantime, here are the websites of the relevant groups ;

www.bradfordodeonrescuegroup.co.uk

www.bradfordcivicsociety.co.uk

www.theatrestrust.org.uk

...and here are details of a recent newspaper article ;

Jane Merrick, Elsa Nightingale - Hockney Joins Battle to Save Derelict Cinema, 20 May 2012 at www.independent.co.uk