An historic Edinburgh cinema will be 'brought back to life', owners have exclusively revealed to Edinburgh Live.
The dramatic Art Deco Odeon on Clerk Street has largely laid empty for almost two decades, with credits rolling on the last film way back in 2003.
However, owners of the iconic capital building, which had to be saved from demolition in 2009, say plans are underway to revitalise the striking property, which will reach its 100 year anniversary in 2030.
READ MORE: Edinburgh cinema and concert venue which once hosted The Clash remains empty
Locals in the Newington area report workmen clearing out the site amid rumours it will reopen as a cinema and bar.
When asked for comment on the works, a spokesman for the owners of the building, The Scotsman Group, told Edinburgh Live: "I can confirm that the former Odeon is still under our ownership, and we are working hard in the background on plans to bring this historic site back to life."
Designed by renowned cinema architect W.E. Trent, it opened as the New Victorian Cinema in 1930 and is Scotland’s best surviving example of a cinema from this period.
In 2009, plans for it to be demolished which had been approved by Edinburgh City Council were overturned by ministers following the intervention of Historic Scotland who claimed that destroying the Category B-listed building was “not justified”.
Although one MSP argued that "alternative options must now be explored which will bring benefit to Edinburgh's Southside without destroying the unique character and charm of this historic building”, over a decade later this has yet to come to pass.
Later that year, the building was broken into and vandalised, with damage to one of the neoclassical statues that gave the cinema its imposing look.
It was briefly used as a Fringe space called Pod Deco in 2004 and then again in 2005. In February 2005, plans were lodged with Edinburgh City Council to demolish the auditorium entirely, and build student flats on the site, only keeping the external facade. This generated considerable controversy and the plans were eventually withdrawn.
Since the building had previously been used as a concert venue for bands such as The Clash, it was taken over in 2013 and the foyer was converted into a live performance venue called the Instant Arena.
The next year, the main auditorium was opened as a 600 seat venue, but only lasted several weeks before closing again and has stood vacant despite multiple plans including turning it into a ‘superpub’ or an arts centre. Part of the rear building facing Buccleuch Street was converted into student flats, however the majority of the building still remains.
It was bought by the G1 Group (now The Scotsman Group) in 2015.
Rumours have persisted the building would be turned cinema, cafe and bar since 2017, while its status on the Buildings At Risk register is currently listed as 'restoration in progress'.
