Granada EMD Cinema in Walthamstow E17

Granda Cinema and Multi Use arts Building and Public House (Mirth, Marvel and Maud)

Role: Concept Design and Visuals

Completed 2011

Peter’s design work was featured on the front Page of Waltham Forest Guardian Newspaper and was instrumental in raising public awareness of the potential use of the building if it were retained as a Cinema / Arts Building.

The Granada EMD Cinema is a Grade II Listed building.  The initial building opened in 1887 and re-designed in 1930 into the building we see today.  During the building’s 100 year history, it was used for cinema, cabaret and pop concerts with bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones having played there.  The building fell into disrepair in the early 2000’s with failed Planning Applications to turn it into a Church.

Peter approached the Waltham Forest Cinema Trust (a local pressure group) in 2011 and offered to help with the campaign to save the cinema from being turned into a Church.

Peter’s design work was used to raise awareness with the local authority of the potential for refurbishment and re-instatement as a cinema and arts building and to attract potential cinema operators.

Peter’s proposals included re-branding the Cinema as “The Hitchcock Cinema” which closely linked the building very much back to it’s roots in film and links with Sir Alfred Hitchcock who was born in Waltham Forest.

Peter’s design included a refurbished foyer back to it’s original splendor, a linked  Restaurant able to offer meal deal cinema tickets and fine dining.  The radical suggestion was to re-instate the stalls with a flat / terraced floor with a long bar able to offer cabaret dining offering and locate two studio cinemas below the dress circle.

Peter’s design work was released to the local press the day before the date of the Planning Committee who ruled to retain the cinema.  Since then the Building has changed hands and is now in the ownership of the Antic Pub Chain.  Antic have started the slow process of renovation and have opened a ‘pop up’ bar called Mirth Marvel and Maud in the foyer areas. http://mirthmarvelandmaud.com/.  It is hoped that Antic’s proposals for the main auditorium retain many of Peter’s ideas for the space.