Building of the Month February 2025: The State Cinema, George Street, Grays, Essex

Noted for the completeness of the survival of its interior, the State was built in 1938 for Frederick's Electric Theatres. With its seating capacity of 2,200, it drew crowds to the latest releases but could not survive in the modern age of multiplexes.  It has now been disused for decades and its interiors are at immediate and serious risk of being destroyed. 

The State has been on SAVE's register since 1998 and, as a grade II* listed building, it is also on Historic England's Heritage at Risk register.  The Cinema Theatres Association also have it on their at risk list and have campaigned, along with the Theatres Trust for it to be saved.  Alongside this high level of national attention, the building has also attracted a huge amount of local support from the Council and the community.  It has rallied to its cause those who love historic cinemas and those who value it as a very special local building.  But despite all of this since becoming disused, it has suffered a series of setbacks and a lack of care and maintenance.

 

The building has had a succession of owners but it appears those owners have only carried out sparse maintenance, with the building suffering from damp for many years. By 2009 it seemed there might be some light at the end of the tunnel as a valiant local activist collected a petition of 6,000 signatures to save the cinema and bring pressure for action. There was talk of making the cinema the subject of a Compulsory Purchase Order.  The CPO never materialised but proposals were discussed for a mixed-use scheme involving extensive alterations. To the great relief of the cinema’s supporters, this proposal was rejected by the then owner in favour of a lighter-touch and less-damaging scheme. Planning permission and listed building consent were granted in 2011 for the building's conversion to a conference centre together with entertainment facilities, restaurants, shops, and bars. However, the scheme did not proceed. 

 

Then in 2018, permission to convert the former cinema to a public house was approved. Thurrock Council, Place Services at Essex County Council and Historic England had been working for a number of years with J D Wetherspoons on the scheme.  Some loss of historic features was expected including the removal of the auditorium seating but the majority of features were to be retained and restored.  Some changes were made in permissions in 2021 including the addition of windows in the north elevation. Of all the schemes, this one seemed to have the greatest chance of success and the least impact on the building but at the end of 2022, the company announced that they were no longer proceeding with the plans and the building was once more placed on the market. It was also in 2022, that the holes in the roof of the auditorium were first identified.

 

In 2023, the building was again acquired by a new owner, a development company.  In November, the Theatres Trust and Cinema Theatres Association wrote to Thurrock Council requesting action be taken to address the now gaping hole in the roof. Locals kept an eye on the building reporting on their Facebook page that the site was badly secured and deteriorating in condition. 

 

The owners proposed conversion to a weddings and conference venue but have not made any detailed plans public.  In the meantime, after cotinuing concern and discussions between the Council and Historic England, the Council announced it was prepared to take formal action against the owner.  This has not yet proved necessary however as we understand that the owner has itself commenced works to carry out some repairs to secure the building and to make it weathertight. This is welcome news but far from a confirmed plan for comprehensive rescue.  The essential works need to be completed promptly and, to prevent new problems arising and potential costs rising, a viable scheme is needed as soon as possible which makes the most of this exceptional and exciting building at the heart of Grays.