Wetherspoons plans Art Deco refurbishment of listed cinema building to highlight its ‘silver screen’ past

Tuesday, 19 August 2025 19:10

By Chris Gee

A Wetherspoons pub in a former cinema is set for a refurbishment reflecting its storied past.

The Grade II listed Art Picture House, opposite Bury transport interchange, has been a JD Wetherspoon outlet since 2010.

In the past week, the pub chain have have applied for planning permission for an extensive ‘refresh of the internal area’ which includes removing the current central bar.

Documents in support of the plans by Harrison Ince Architects have been published by Bury council.

It states: “A full refurbishment to the ground floor of The Art Picture House is proposed with the intention of highlighting the historic elements of the interior.

“The main objective is to reinstate Art Deco style elements, which feature on the exterior front façade of the building, throughout the customer areas.

“By enlarging the bar underneath the proscenium arch, customers attention will be drawn to the original use of the building as a cinema.

“Additional decorative curtains will be added to the existing theatrical style curtain to emphasise the original cinema screen location.

“Timber wall panelling through the main entrance, which formed part of the original ticket booth, will be refurbished and enhanced with artworks depicting the previous use of the building.

“An Art Deco style flooring will be laid within this space and additional signs included to entice customers into the main interior space.”

The building, designed by Albert Winstanley, was originally built in 1922.
The site continued as a theatre and cinema until 1964, when it became a theatre only.

Sometime after this, the site became a bingo hall and then a Chicago Rock restaurant before JD Wetherspoon took over the premises.

Among other changes proposed for the pub are the female toilets to be relocated to opposite side, half height partition walls removed and new stairs and a ramp.

A heritage report with the plans describes the building ‘as one of the most elaborate and complete examples of an early 1920s cinema, still exceptionally theatrical in its plan and decoration’.

Planners at Bury council will consider the application in the coming weeks.