Keighley Picture House pulled from sale after Town Council offers to buy it
The Picture House was among dozens of buildings set to be auctioned off - to raise cash for Bradford Council
A CINEMA has been pulled from auction by Bradford Council after a town council expressed interest in buying the building.
In February 2024, Bradford Council announced plans to sell off over 150 buildings and assets in a bid to raise millions and try to balance its books.
One of the buildings on the list of assets to be sold was Keighley Picture House, a traditional cinema in the town centre.
The Council owns the building, which is leased to a group that runs the cinema.
Earlier this month it was announced that the asset sale would be in the form of an auction, with the Picture House going under the hammer on August 25.
It would have a guide price of £110,000, and the listing said it was “a rare opportunity to acquire a historic cinema.”
It added: “The property may represent an opportunity to increase the passing rent or redevelop subject to securing vacant possession.”
The news caused huge controversy in Keighley, with MP Robbie Moore (Cons) said: “Bradford Council is putting one of the town’s most treasured assets up for sale in order to try to salvage its own financial mess.
“Our heritage should not be for sale and Bradford Council has let us down once again.”
After Mr Moore’s comments the group that runs the cinema posted: “We feel the need to clarify a few things regarding the ‘selling off’ of The Picture House Cinema.
“The cinema is NOT being outright sold and shut down, we intend to continue business as usual and this is not us closing our doors, not now and hopefully not ever.
“This is an auction of the site we sit on and would likely mean a new landlord but with Charles Morris and Northern Morris Cinemas still here keeping the fire of independent cinema alive and burning bright.”
Now in light of opposition Bradford Council has decided to remove the sale of the freehold of the building.
A statement from the Council said: “This decision comes after Keighley Town Council expressed interest in buying the building. Bradford Council wants to give time for discussions with Keighley Town Council to explore this possibility.
“We know how important the Picture House is to the people of Keighley. We’re happy to pause the auction so we can talk with Keighley Town Council about their interest in buying it. We’ll share more updates as talks continue.
“The business that operates Keighley Picture House is not up for sale as part of this process.
“So the cinema is running as normal and is not affected by who owns the building. The cinema has a full programme of films showing for the summer holidays. It’s an important part of Keighley’s culture, and we know how much it means to the community.”