Stafford's landmark cinema up for sale with new Odeon on the way

The landmark cinema is being offered for sale by Stafford-based estate agents Millar Sandy.

Alternatively it can be rented for £75,000 a year. It was built in the 1930s and became a landmark in the town.

According to Kevin Millar, from the estate agents, the lease on hthe building runs out in 12 months and interested parties have already made contact.

Mr Millar said he has talked to 'very specialist' leisure providers over the potential purchase of the building – who are likely to want to convert it if they buy it.

It has three screens and is in a prime town centre location at the junctions of Lichfield Road with Bridge Street and Newport Road , but is no longer required with the new cinema on the way.

Millar Sandy's advert states: "The Stafford Cinema is an imposing landmark building with a striking entrance feature and was built in the 1930s as an Odeon in a style of architecture typical of picture houses of that period.

"Although currently in use as a cinema, the building would be suitable for a wide variety of alternative commercial purposes subject to the appropriate planning consent and might be of particular interest to licensed and leisure operators given its proximity to similar operations."

Amended plans for the new Odeon cinema as part of the £100m Riverside development in Stafford have been submitted to council bosses.

LXB Properties, which is in charge of Riverside, said it will start work this side of Christmas and the new cinema is likely to be open in 15 to 18 months time.

That development would be built on the former Express & Star building in Bridge Street and further along the banks of the River Sow. It also contains plans for two restaurants.

Plans asking for the amendment of one of those, which would be built onto the cinema building, have been submitted to Stafford Borough Council.

Initially it was hoped the facade of the Express & Star's building could be retained but now developers WYG Planning want to demolish it.