New era for old cinema as refurbishment starts

The Adelphi building has been a cinema, a nightclub and a bingo hall during the past century

Work is under way to bring a century-old cinema building back into use again as a focus for the local community.

The Adelphi in Attercliffe, Sheffield, opened more than 100 years ago, and has also served as a bingo hall and a nightclub.

The building's refurbishment was intended to create a new centre for the community through leisure, arts and music activities, according to Sheffield City Council.

Councillor Ben Miskell, chair of the transport, regeneration and climate policy committee, said: "This building holds a very special place in people's heart in Attercliffe, and rightly so. It was once a focal point."

Once the site was cleared inside and out, the revamp would begin in earnest, the council said.

Sheffield City Council says the plan is to turn the building into a focus for local residents once again

The Adelphi first opened in 1920 and continued as a cinema for nearly 50 years, with the last film being screened there in 1967.

It also survived being damaged by bombs in World War Two and is now Grade II listed.

The striking art deco building later hosted Sheffield's famous Gatecrasher club nights, among other events, and was also used as a music teaching centre.

It sat empty from 2006 until 2013 and has since been used only for storage.

In October 2021, Sheffield City Council was successful in securing £17.5m of government funds for the regeneration of Attercliffe.

About £4m of that funding has been allocated to buy and refurbish the Adelphi site, including repairs to the building, the removal of some small extensions, and conservation work to prevent future deterioration.

'Stunning frontage'

Sheffield City Council said a clean-up of any harmful waste inside the building would be part of preparations for the main work to begin there in the spring.

The building's "stunning frontage" would be retained, a spokesperson said.

It was anticipated that the current phase would be finished in summer 2026, according to the council.

Attention could then be turned to any further work prior to fit-out by an operator yet to be determined before the building's eventual re-opening.

Miskell said: "Our ambitions for it will see it return to being that focal point with the community at the heart of this project."

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