BIRMINGHAM, UK — Campaigners fighting to preserve The Electric, the UK’s oldest working cinema, have expressed devastation after their bid for listed status was rejected by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
The historic venue in Birmingham, which first opened its doors in 1909, was abruptly closed last year, sparking fears that it could fall prey to developers.
Darren John, a lead campaigner in the effort to save the city centre cinema, condemned the decision, warning that it could set a “very dangerous precedent” for other cultural heritage sites across the UK.
Speaking to reporters, John said the decision effectively “silences the story of the city’s history,” highlighting the importance of the building in representing Birmingham’s 20th-century working-class creativity.
“The Electric tells the story of 20th Century Birmingham working-class creativity and it is vital to Brummies,” John stated. Despite the setback, he vowed to continue fighting for the building’s preservation, calling on local politicians to step in. “We implore Birmingham politicians to list the building locally,” he added.
The campaign to secure listed status for the cinema was supported by more than 24,000 people who signed petitions urging the DCMS to protect the building from redevelopment.
However, the government department announced its decision in a statement, explaining that, despite reviewing all the evidence presented, The Electric did not meet the necessary criteria for listing.
“After considering all the evidence presented, it was decided that the Electric Cinema venue in Birmingham did not meet the criteria for listing,” the DCMS said.
The department did not elaborate on the specific reasons behind the rejection, leaving campaigners frustrated and concerned about the building’s future.
The closure of The Electric came as a shock to many in Birmingham, with the venue having been a beloved part of the city’s cultural landscape for more than a century.
Its art deco design and historic significance made it a symbol of the city’s cinematic history. Built just four years after the first cinema opened in Britain, The Electric has survived two World Wars, multiple ownership changes, and a period of closure in the 1990s before being revitalized as a hub for independent and arthouse films.
Local residents and historians argue that the cinema’s heritage and its role in Birmingham’s cultural history justify its protection. “This decision feels like a betrayal of Birmingham’s history,” said Emily Hayes, a local historian who supported the campaign. “Losing The Electric would mean losing a piece of our collective memory.”
With the DCMS decision effectively removing a significant layer of protection, campaigners now fear that developers might target the site for commercial redevelopment.
John has urged local authorities to intervene by granting the cinema local listed status, a move that could offer some protection against immediate redevelopment threats.
For now, the future of The Electric hangs in the balance, with campaigners vowing to continue their fight to safeguard what they see as a vital part of Birmingham’s cultural heritage.
