The Grade II-listed former Gaumont cinema on Windmill Lane in Smethwick is to be sold at auction with a guide price of £250,000, the same as a typical three-bedroom terrace in the area. The Art Deco building, which opened in 1930 as a 1,950-seat cinema, was severely damaged by a fire in May 2024 and now requires substantial redevelopment.
A Landmark Building with a Long History
The property, which has been a prominent Smethwick landmark for almost a century, later operated as a bingo hall and then as the Victoria Suite banqueting venue before closing. The fire in May 2024 caused extensive damage, including the collapse of its roof, leaving the building a shadow of its former self.
Carl Finch, director at BTG Eddisons Property Auctions, said: “This is a really striking building with a long history in Smethwick, but there’s no disguising the scale of the work needed after the fire. It’s a challenging property, particularly given its Grade II-listed status, but it’s also a substantial building in a prominent location, with almost 20,000 sq ft of space.”
Auction Details and Property Features
The former cinema will feature in the BTG Eddisons Property Auctions live stream auction on 28-29 October, with a guide price of £250,000. The property offers around 19,000 sq ft of internal space over four levels, with vehicle access on both sides, and backs onto the Windmill Shopping Centre. It is situated approximately four miles east of Birmingham city centre and less than a mile from Smethwick town centre.
Finch added: “It will be fascinating to see what sort of interest it attracts and, ultimately, what a new owner decides to do with a building that has been such a well-known part of the local landscape for so many years.”
Future Uses and Bidding Information
A spokesperson for BTG Eddisons Property Auctions said: “A Grade II-listed former cinema in Smethwick, which was gutted by fire two years ago, is to go to auction this month with a guide price of £250,000. The former Gaumont cinema on Windmill Lane will feature in the BTG Eddisons Property Auctions live stream auction on 28-29 October.”
The property could be suitable for a range of future uses, subject to the necessary planning consents and listed building requirements. For further details and bidding information, visit www.btgeddisonspropertyauctions.com. The auction will be held over two days, with the former cinema being one of the lots on offer.
