Exclusive: £8m development plan to put old cinema back in the picture

A London-based cinema operator is hoping to buy the former Majestyk night club, in Leeds, and turn it into a multi-screen digital cinema.

The Grade II listed building, which was one of the country's largest cinemas when it was built in 1922, was put on the market last month after plans to turn it into a Las Vegas-style casino complex collapsed.

The site, which is owned by Luminar Leisure, is now not in use but is being marketed for development by property consultancy Gerald Eve, which believes it could be used for leisure, office or retail purposes.

Offers are being invited for the freehold building with vacant possession on or before Friday, June 4.

Chris Ford, director at Gerald Eve, said: "We have had a lot of people interested in the site, which is encouraging.

"It will be interesting to see what happens when we start receiving offers.

"There has been interest in buying the site for a range of different uses."

The proposed 8m development, based on a scheme designed by SDA Architects in Leeds, would provide a seven-screen cinema complex incorporating the latest digital technology, along with shops and a restaurant.

It is understood that the operator is planning to submit a bid for the building in the next few days.

The redeveloped property, which would return to its original name Majestic Cinema, could be open for business by the end of 2011 if everything goes according to plan for the potential buyer.

A spokesman for the development team said the cinema would show Hollywood blockbusters alongside art house and international films.

He said: "The aim is to create an upmarket, high-quality cinema environment with ancillary restaurant tenants, which will show mainstream films alongside art house cinema."

When it was first built, the cinema was one large auditorium but the proposal is to create seven screens over three floors and reinstall terraced seating.

"It won't be without difficulties but it's not an one rous job," the spokesman said.

He added: "We want to reintroduce an art deco feel to the building. We can't replicate the original fit-out but we would like to produce an entrance area, which incorporates modern art deco.

"The outside of the building would be restored as closely as possible to how it was, with better lighting and roof lights on the front section. There are also some statues missing from the original design that we would like to replicate.

"It's an impressive building that deserves to be restored to what it was. It's a fantastic location for transport links and sustainability and there is a great outlook from the balcony at the front which we would like to be part of a restaurant."

English Heritage has welcomed the proposal. A spokesman said: "In principle, we would be pleased to see the building return to its original use."

Ambitious 14m plans by Luminar Leisure would have seen the disused building, in City Square, become a venue for gambling, cabaret and live entertainment.

But the application was rejected by Leeds City Council. Leeds Crown Court turned down a subsequent appeal in January.

Luminar Leisure inherited the nightclub in 2001 when it took over from Northern Leisure.

The building was the city's largest night club, with a 3,310 capacity, and a popular venue until it closed in 2006.

History of a 'super cinema'

The Majestic Cinema opened in City Square, Leeds, in 1922.

It was designed by Pascal Steinlet, an established cinema architect who continued to practise until the 1930s.

He designed a wide, fan-shaped auditorium with the main entrance at the screen end.

The seating capacity was 1,200 in the balcony and 1,600 below, making it one of the "super cinemas" built just before and after the First World War. It was made from "Marmo" terracotta from the Leeds Fireclay Company of Burmantofts.

The cinema, which was owned by Pathe Freres Cinema and occupied by Leeds Picture Playhouses, opened in June 1922 and closed in July 1969 when it was turned into a bingo hall. Majestyk night club opened in 1993 and closed in 2006.