Work has started on redeveloping the former Regal Cinema in Highams Park, an iconic art-deco filmhouse which shut in the 1960s, into a building with a café, flats, and two cinema screens, reports Marco Marcelline
The redevelopment of a former art-deco cinema in Highams Park into 33 flats, a café bar, and a two screen filmhouse is on track to finish in autumn 2027, Waltham Forest Council has said.
Mammoth Capital, who own the Hale End Road site, began construction at the start of 2026, and they plan to “retain” and “restore” the building’s historical art-deco front facade.
According to the council, there is a “range of interest” from cinema operators in the plans to redevelop The Regal. Mammoth Capital will be responsible for marketing the space and agreeing the lease with a cinema operator.
The primary entrance to the cinema will be through the original art deco frontage and original entrance, leading into the foyer area while the café will be situated in the northern section of the ground floor.
Two cinema screens, located in the eastern section of the building, would provide 80 to 90 seats each. The cinema is currently projected to be open between 8am to midnight every day including bank holidays. The café bar would be open from 10am to 11pm every day.
Planning permission for the Regal Cinema redevelopment was first granted in 2018 on the condition that the cinema must be open before the final eight flats were sold. This condition was reduced to five flats by Waltham Forest’s planning committee in 2020.
In December 2022, Mammoth held a public exhibition attended by over 200 residents. The developer then updated the details of its proposal to ensure compliance with construction regulations and design standards, and to make sure it meets the requirements of a range of potential cinema operators.
In July 2024, councillors approved the renewed plan on the condition that only 17 flats are sold before the cinema’s shell and core has been completed. Additionally, no more than 84.84% (28 flats) of the residential units can be occupied before the cinema is first brought into use, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the council.
The site will be car-free, and residents (except blue badge holders) will not be entitled to parking permits for any controlled parking zones (CPZs).
Councillor Rosalind Doré, cabinet member for culture, libraries, sport and leisure, said: “We are thrilled that works have begun on The Regal, a local landmark for many Highams Parkers.
“There continues to be strong interest from cinema operators in opening a new cinema in Highams Park. The site owner will be responsible for marketing the space and agreeing the lease with a cinema operator, with the council assisting by promoting the opportunity to interested operators and securing the best offer for Highams Park residents and the town centre.”
Councillor Ahsan Khan, cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said: “Part of our role as a council is to help bring forward private development, and we’re proud to have facilitated Mammoth Capital in reviving this building by creating new homes, as well as a new two‑screen cinema for Highams Park’s town centre that will also create job opportunities for residents.”
The building opened in 1911 as the Highams Park Electric Theatre and was renamed The Regal Cinema in 1935 when it was partially rebuilt with an art-deco style facade, a new entrance foyer, and a cafe.
The Regal Cinema closed on 11th September 1963 and has since been used as a bingo hall, snooker hall, bar and nightclub before it was left vacant in 2015.
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