The Granada
deserves
to thrive again.

The Granada Tooting opened in 1931 as a luxurious art deco cinema. Seating over three thousand people beneath gilded plasterwork and soaring Gothic arches, it is one of Britain’s most important entertainment buildings. Historic England calls it “without doubt the most lavishly decorated interior of any cinema in Britain.” Architectural critic Ian Nairn put it more simply: “Miss the Tower of London if you have to, but don’t miss this.”

It went on to become one of London’s defining music venues. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Sinatra and the Bee Gees all played here. For the people of South London, this was not just a building. It was a cultural institution. A cathedral of culture.

The Granada has been a bingo hall since 1973. That chapter has been an important part of the building’s life, and the community it serves matters. But a building large enough to host thousands, with this heritage and this interior, is operating at a fraction of its true potential.

Two minutes from Tooting Broadway tube station, the venue is exceptionally well placed. In a part of the city that has no major music and arts destination, the opportunity is unparalleled.

Our Intention

We want to return the Granada to its former glory as a performing and visual arts venue, a century after its original opening. We are open to how we get there: whether that means running shows alongside the building’s existing life as a bingo hall, or fully returning the space to its original use. What matters is doing right by this building, and by the community it has always served.

Right now, we are listening to local people, to those who know this building, and to anyone who shares our belief in what it could become. We are also building the partnerships with those who can help us deliver this vision. If that is you, we would love to hear from you.