The former Debenhams store in Lichfield could be converted into a cinema after a deal was struck on the future of the site.
Lichfield District Council and Evolve Estates – the new owners of the Three Spires Shopping Centre – have agreed to embark on a joint venture to convert the Baker’s Lane unit.
The building – which has been empty since Debenhams closed in May 2021 – had previously been home to TJ Hughes.
But the agreement could see it eventually reopen as a multi-screen cinema.
Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of Lichfield District Council, said:
“We are excited about the prospect of working with Evolve to understand the potential for the development of a cinema in the Three Spires Shopping Centre.
“It would be fantastic to have a cinema in the centre of Lichfield to further enhance our leisure and entertainment offering.
“It would undoubtedly attract more people into the city centre in the daytime, evenings and weekends which is great for the future prosperity of retail and hospitality businesses.”
Lichfield District Council
The development of a new cinema has long been on the agenda for Lichfield city centre, with the facility being earmarked as a key part of the failed Friarsgate redevelopment.
The conversion of the Debenhams store would open up more opportunities for the local authority as part of the Birmingham Road site project.
A cinema had been a part of the plans for a mixed-use redevelopment of the land currently occupied by the multi-storey car park, bus station, former police station and one-time Tempest Ford site.
Cllr Pullen said he hoped the agreement would accelerate plans to develop a city centre cinema.
“Both Lichfield District Council and Evolve Estates are committed to considering the options for making the cinema a reality.
“We want to do this quickly and hope to have completed the considerations by the end of the summer.
“Many people have called for a cinema in the city and the former Debenhams premises could prove to be a most suitable and successful location.”
Cllr Doug Pullen, Lichfield District Council
Lichfield’s last city centre cinema – The Regal on Tamworth Street – closed its doors in July 1974 with a screening of Bruce Lee’s The Big Boss.
At one stage, a local group had sought to develop plans to restore the site so films could be shown once more, but the building, which originally opened in 1932, has since been converted into retirement apartments after a spell as a nightclub and supermarket.
Sounds like an expensive way to discover that building a new cinema in 2022 doesn’t make the best business sense.
Friarsgate 2.0 – watch this space.
This is great, exciting news! Make it happen please!!
Very good and logical idea. Has my full support. Let’s get on with it. Would be great to have an Everyman in Lichfield, their cinema at the Mailbox in Birmingham is great.
Would it not be better to convert it into rental flats for the under 30s,it would bring revenue to the town and alleviate the problem we have with a dying town centre.
Hmmm sounds like cheap fix….
1. A 2 screen cinema showing old films
2. Leave multi-storey car park as it is
3. Build houses on rest
Watch this space!!! Lichfield DC are incapable of doing anything proper and we all know it .
This could be massive for Lichfield! I hope everything is done to get this right as this could be the catalyst for new businesses to take over empty retail spaces at the end of town. The idea of a rooftop bar as well would be great and give amazing views towards the Cathedral. Everyman Cinema is the perfect blue print to follow. Let’s hope this happens
Why do I not feel excited?
Perhaps I will be when it finally opens?
So many ideas promises and so many failures.
How about also putting a bowling alley or indoor crazy golf in there to create a real entertainment complex? Or one of those bars/restaurants which combines the two (leisure and food) like Flight Club in Birmingham or similar to the ping pong places (Bounce Ping Poing) that you see in London. Loads of potential to create something positive.
@Richard Nelson, I hope you’re joking. The last thing we need here is yet more residential. We need more leisure and entertainment in Lichfield’s centre, not flats!
When something positive like this is proposed people on here should get behind it as these comments are read! Not complain. There’s plenty more to complain about! Last thing we want to do is put off investment for something that is finally positive and what so many people have been calling for.
A rooftop bar and Everyman cinema would be absolutely perfect for this.
I agree with Simon. The Everyman in Birmingham is an excellent venue, as is The Red Carpet cinema in Barton.People still like to go out to the cinema and if they incorporate a bar / restaurant like these two have I’m sure it would be popular.
Brilliant idea well done!!
George there is a crazy golf in Beacon Park hardly used
Visuals look good – Will be a form of anchor for that part of the precinct. Finally someone has been listening to the needs and wants of the people of Lichfield.
Why not make the site an entertain/sports venue
to include snooker, pool, table tennis, bowling alley. Something to attract all ages instead of having to travel out of Lichfield to find such venues.
I hate to be a killjoy, but if it’s going to be a ‘multi-screen cinema’, then those screens aren’t going to be very big, are they? Not if we’re taking the size of the former Debenhams unit into account, anyway.
Granted that some sort of cinema offer is an advance on no cinema offer, but – accepting that it would be useful to see specific plans before making a final judgement – given the information available I’m not sensing that this is going to be a transformative big screen experience.
And I note that Cllr Pullen has only spoken of ‘the _prospect_ of working with Evolve to understand the _potential_ for the development of a cinema’; that’s a lot of conditionals.
Fantastic news, a matter of watch this space a suppose, council doesn’t have a particularly good track record. Hopefully there is light around the corner, wonder if additional GP practices, schooling is also on the cards with the ever increasing outer city housing sprawl…..not knocking the proposed cinema though 😎
It seems more tactics to allow the old Friarsgate site to become 100% housing. The planned cinema on that site, can now be allocated for more new homes.
To change the Debenhams store to a cinema would take a huge amount of alterations to the fabric of the building. The costs would be astronomical.
Three months ago Doug Pullen wanted to get rid of the “ugly” car park next to the Debenhams site. Where are the cinema visitors going to park?
Great idea to create something for leisure and enjoyment, an absolute no to rental flats for under 30s for me I’m afraid. I am a woman in my early fifties who doesn’t drive and benefits from leisure and entertainment close by especially when a great venue like the Red Carpet Cinema at Barton is only reached by car… Think of those that don’t drive and don’t have buses running all weekend to allow to get around on days off. Additionally what a bonus to enhance Lichfield and not let it suffer the demise of many other high streets once much loved. Very much hope the cinema comes to bear.
The tree line between the cathedral and minster pool really needs sorting out. It’s completely overgrown and will limit the rooftop terrace being a good view point.
This would be very positive development.
Lichfield needs to stop trying to compete on a retail basis with Ventura and instead should proactively encourage more leisure and independent businesses into the centre of the city.
Sheffield did this in the face of the Meadowhall development in the late 1990’s and positively transformed the city centre experience for people of all ages.
I think it’s a great idea,I always thought that the old cinema in Tamworth Street,with its retro frontage, was perfect for restoration as a cinema and was disappointed to see it converted to flats, although they were nicely done.
“Lo, all our pomp of yesterday / Is one with Nineveh and Tyre”.
Using yesterday’s solutions to fix today’s problems is perhaps not the way forward.
The days of shopping as a leisure activity are over. A balance of retail, hospitality, leisure and culture is what we need.
This would be great, I certainly hope if it goes ahead, I hope they have the sense to make one screen an IMAX screen, Lichfield needs to be a go to destination, instead of a place you have to leave for entertainment, fo far to long idiotic councilors have held this city back, they won’t allow the bus stop to have electronic time display, the wouldn’t allow Tj Hugh’s to put up a light sign saying it wasn’t in keeping with a Victorian city, stupid old farts running Lichfield obviously think empty shops are tempting to the public
Most Cinemas have parking spaces outside. The footfall is not big enough to suggest it would be successful. Cinemas DO NOT make money, it will be gone within a couple of years. The Waste financially in Lichfield is nauseating i hope the private companies see sense and keep out.
Before splashing cash with this extremely small company, 8 employees including directors in 2020, their most recent unaudited accounts, it might be worth investigating their accounts filed in Companies House.
If either party need an overpriced, underproductive consultant for this project – I’m available for £250k pa. I can draw really good rectangles in MS Paint and I can conclude a report any which way you want it – no trouble!
Massive drop in Cinema attendance. Overpriced seating,drinks,food…With the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime etc. Why spend average £12.75 + on a seat. £2.50 Coke. Ice Cream £3.etc.. for a couple of hours .
Also note Cinema chains so desperate for custom they offer Monthly Tickets.
Everyone I’ve mentioned the possibility of a cinema in Lichfield to has thoroughly agreed that it is a great idea! Currently my 20+ year old kids have to travel to Tamworth or Walsall to the cinema which is both costly and taking money away from local businesses.