The Wokingham Islamic Centre has revealed it has exchanged contracts to buy the former Ritz cinema building on Easthampstead Road in Wokingham town centre.
The 20,403 sq ft three-floor property was recently listed for sale again, seeking offers in excess of £999,999.
The acquisition will see the largely derelict property brought back into use after years of being unoccupied.
It was listed on the open market as having planning permission for a “place of worship” although Wokingham Today understands that is not the case, and that permission would need to be sought and granted for anything other than as a “public events hall”, “business” or “entertainment” use.
Taking to Facebook, the group said it needed to raise £700,000 in the next six weeks to complete the purchase.
As of Wednesday morning (July 22), it had raised almost £300,000 of that target.
Planning permission for 22 luxury apartments was granted in 2021 to the previous owner, Montreaux Homes, before it went into liquidation. That permission has since expired.
The former cinema was regarded as one of the finest cinemas in the south of England when it opened in May 1937. It had stalls and a balcony and was also an entertainment venue, housing talent shows and the carnival queen contest.
In the late 1970s, Jora Leisure turned the cinema into a bingo hall, with a pool hall and an American-style coffee bar. Films continued to be screened.
Bingo continued until early 2019, and the site has been empty and falling into disrepair since. It has also been home to a video rental shop and a pizza takeaway.
Wokingham Today understands the property has been a regular target for vandalism and anti-social behaviour in recent years.
Although the property comes with a small number of parking spaces, it is adjacent to a number of large car parks in the town centre.
A spokesperson for Wokingham Islamic Centre told Wokingham Today: “Our vision is to create a vibrant community hub that benefits the whole town.
“Alongside prayers, we hope to provide educational programmes, youth activities, science clubs, family events, charitable initiatives and support services that are open and welcoming.
“A key part of our vision is investing in the next generation.
“We hope to offer educational workshops and skills-based programmes that help young people develop confidence in areas such as technology, coding, artificial intelligence and digital innovation.
“These are skills that are becoming increasingly important in today’s world, and we want to help prepare young people for future education and career opportunities.
“These opportunities will be open to everyone in the local community, regardless of faith or background, as part of our commitment to creating a centre that benefits Wokingham as a whole.
“The project also has the potential to bring more people into Wokingham town centre throughout the week.
“Visitors attending prayers, classes and community events are likely to use local cafés, restaurants, supermarkets and shops, helping to support local businesses and increase footfall.
“By bringing a vacant building back into active use, we hope to contribute positively to the town centre and work alongside residents, businesses and local organisations to make Wokingham an even stronger, more connected community.
“Our aim is simple: to be good neighbours, contribute positively to the local economy, and create a centre that serves both the Muslim community and the wider public for generations to come.”
