The Electric: Why is UK’s Oldest Cinema Closing Its Doors?

The Electric Cinema, the UK’s oldest working cinema, has announced that it is closing its doors for the foreseeable future, leaving its fans and supporters in shock and dismay.

The facts

The cinema, which is located in Birmingham and dates back to 1909, has been a beloved and iconic venue for film lovers and filmmakers alike, hosting various events and festivals, such as the Flatpack Film Festival, and screening a range of films, from classics to independents.

The cinema has an art-deco frontage and two screens. It has also been part of the city’s history and culture, surviving two world wars, several fires, and multiple ownership and management changes.

The reason behind the cinema’s closure is not clear, as the owners have not given any official statement or explanation. However, some sources suggest that the closure is related to the expiry of the cinema’s lease, and the uncertainty and difficulty of negotiating a new one.

The cinema’s current owner, Kevin Markwick, who took over the cinema in 2022, after it was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, has not responded to the media’s inquiries. The cinema’s staff have confirmed the closure, but have not revealed any other details.

The arguments

The closure of the cinema has sparked a wave of sadness and anger among the cinema’s patrons and admirers, who have expressed their feelings and memories on social media platforms.

Some have also started an online petition, calling for the city council to designate Station Street, where the cinema is situated, as a historic, cultural, and civic asset, and to protect it from potential redevelopment.

The petition, which has gathered nearly 4,000 signatures, argues that the cinema is a valuable and irreplaceable part of the city’s heritage and identity and that its loss would be devastating for the city and its people.

The closure of the cinema has also raised concerns and questions about the future and fate of the arts and cultural scene in Birmingham, especially in the wake of the pandemic, which has severely affected the industry and its workers.

The cinema is not the only historic and cultural landmark in Station Street that is facing an uncertain future, as the Crown Pub, where the legendary rock band Black Sabbath played their first gig, has also announced that it will not reopen after plans to restore it fell apart.

Some have also pointed out the lack of support and recognition from the authorities and the public for the independent and alternative venues and events in the city, which the mainstream and commercial ones often overshadow.

The Electric Cinema is not only the UK’s oldest working cinema but also one of its most cherished and unique ones. Its closure is not only a loss for the cinema industry but also for the city and the society.

The cinema’s fans and supporters hope that the closure is not permanent and that the cinema will reopen and resume its role as a hub of film and culture in Birmingham.