Copied to Steve Reed OBE, MP; Theatres Trust; Historic England; Lambeth Culture; Lambeth Regeneration; Marina Ahmad AM; GLA Culture
Dear Councillor,
Congratulations on winning your seat on Lambeth Council in the recent elections. Whether returning to the Council or joining for the first time, you are surely looking forward to doing the best for your constituents and the borough.
Before the elections, we wrote to candidates regarding The Friend’s campaign to save the grand-scale Streatham Hill Theatre for the benefit of the community, and now we write to you to update you on recent developments.
Even though there is a commercial theatre company at the ready with funds for both producing shows and the renovation of the theatre, the current owners of the property are seeking to convert it to a place of worship. The owners also now have an urgent short-deadline opportunity to remove the gambling establishment embedded in part of the building.
We call on you to support the campaign to get all stakeholders together to create the right solution for all.
Some history
The beautiful theatre was built in 1928-9 on a scale similar to the London Palladium with a capacity of around 2,800 (and said then to be the fourth largest theatre in London, and probably still is). The design was by the great theatre architect, WGR Sprague, his last and largest theatre. It served the community, bringing west end shows and famous names to Streatham until 1962, when Mecca launched its flagship bingo and social club there. Bingo survived under various operators until 2017 when the operators closed the main auditorium and continued with only a small part of the building in use as a Merkur Slots gambling premises.
Campaign
The campaign has the support of the local community, cross-party support from local councillors and our local MP, and support from our high-profile patrons and creative industry supporters, many of whom have local connections, along with our supporter organisations which include local businesses.
Since bingo closed in 2017, we have drastically increased the awareness of this great resource, previously sitting largely un-noticed in Streatham Hill, and promoted its rejuvenation to help the local community and the local economy. Working with Lambeth, Theatres Trust and Historic England amongst others, the theatre has been recognised
- As an ‘Asset of Community Value’ (renewed for a second time)
- As ‘At Risk’ by Theatres Trust, Historic England (who listed it at Grade 2), SAVE Britain’s Heritage and the Art Deco Society
- As a key element of regenerating Streatham’s high street (Streatham High Road and Streatham Hill), bringing footfall and spend to the area…
- …by inclusion in Lambeth’s Streatham Investment and Growth Strategy and its Local Plan as a place of entertainment, leisure, arts and culture
- As economically viable as determined by an independent study, crowd-financed by c. 400 supporters, the Mayor of London, Lambeth and Theatres Trust
Opportunity
There is a well-funded professional theatre operator led by award winning Thom Southerland who see the great opportunity to create a flagship art institution at Streatham Hill Theatre, developing work of international importance, while engaging fully with the local community.
Though Thom tried to acquire the theatre from reluctant owners over a long period, he ultimately lost out to a property company in May 2022 who quickly sold on at a large profit to the current owners Ruach City Church in July 2022. Thom has repeatedly attempted to engage Ruach in discussions about an arrangement to, for example, share use of the theatre with the church in a similar way to other theatres like the Dominion in Tottenham Court Road. The status of any discussions or negotiations is unclear.
Planning Issues
Since Ruach acquired the building, it was kept empty for a couple of years, then church services started, but without planning permission. Various building works were carried out to rectify water ingress but also to the auditorium, stage and entrances. The now fully boxed-in reduced stage area (and a false floor over the orchestra pit) currently inhibit the viability for commercial shows and location hire. Lambeth asked Ruach to present a planning application – their first attempt was rejected but a second attempt has been with planning since May 2025. The application calls for change of use to a place of worship, but this is contrary to several Lambeth and GLA policies protecting entertainment venues from loss. The Friends and many other individuals and organisations including Theatres Trust, have submitted objections to the planning application, and it is still awaiting officer recommendations. It is unlikely to go to the Planning Committee until early summer.
Urgent Deadline
Back in 2022 when the freehold of the theatre was sold twice, existing leases were replaced by a new lease for Merkur. This lease is for the part of the building which Merkur continues to operate as a slot machine lounge. The lease runs until 2037, but the landlord Ruach City Church has the opportunity to ‘break’ the lease on 30 June 2027 by giving 12 months’ notice, and paying a sum of £100,000 before that break date.
We have been told by Ruach that they did not expect the slot machine lounge to be in place when they bought, and they would like to remove the gambling operation which blocks access to parts of the building, and goes against their ethics. Gambling on the church doorstep, combined with local betting shops, also attracts anti-social behaviour in the area.
Triggering the opportunity to remove the slot machines at this first break opportunity would therefore benefit Ruach and the community in the short term, and the future use of the building as a whole.
We have therefore written to Ruach Trustees (and other stakeholders) flagging up this opportunity, the critical timescale and the benefits it would bring if Ruach were to serve notice. We are pleased to hear from Ruach that their board is considering the matter, and we hope to be able to bring an update when we hear from them.
A win-win way forward
Firstly, and urgently, The Friends encourage Ruach to exercise their rights to remove the gambling establishment from the property. This would unite the whole property together under single control and enable the longer-term future of the theatre.
For that longer term, The Friends believe that a way forward, which will benefit Ruach and the community, is for all stakeholders to encourage an agreement between Ruach and Thom Southerland for shared use as a commercial theatre, supporting community arts and a church. We have asked Ruach to withdraw their current planning application, which would not allow shared use, and work with Thom on a way forward. Thom has the funds to open and renovate the building, bringing people to the area to see quality theatre, with community access and outreach. Ruach would continue to use the building, which would be renovated and maintained and receive income.
Call for action
Please show your support in your publicity and please continue to support the best result for Streatham Hill Theatre and for Streatham, through Lambeth Council, working with all stakeholders and the local community.
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