St Albans Odeon for sale (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Hopes for working cinema flickering once more

5:12pm Monday 15th December 2008 in News By Alex Lewis

THE dilapidated former Odeon Cinema has been put up for sales, raising hopes that it could one day show films again.

The owner, property developer Wattsdown, which after a lengthy planning battle won permision to convert the London Road building into flats, with the distinctive appearance of the distinctive art decau facade preserved by a replica, is selling it through the St Albans estate agency Halls.

Inviting offers for the freehold by January 9, Halls tells prospective buyers: "This is a truly unique opportunity to acquire this prominent site situated in a convenient position a short distance from both the city centre and the mainline railway station."

Marion Hammant of the St Albans Civic Society said: "This is very interesting news.

"It seems that with property prices collapsing Wattsdown have decided they can't be bothered with it any more.

"It may open the way for some knight to come riding in on a white horse to turn it back into a cinema, which would be absolutely fantastic."

Campaigners such as Mrs Hammond have long been hoping the Odeon, which closed in 1995, could be restored, as a similar 1930s derelict cinema in Berkhamsted successfully was.