The Electric Palace cinema in Bridport is on the market, as its high-profile entrepreneur owner seeks to reduce his business commitments.
Alasdair Warren, who owns The Pursuit of Hoppiness in West Street, Bride Valley Wines and The Electric Pub Company in Rax Lane, bought the Grade II listed building nearly 12 years ago. He bought the town’s arts
centre in 2019.
This year he turns 60, and has decided to gradually divest himself of his various business interests and retire to enjoy Dorset, where he was born and bred.
The sale of the century-old cinema – dubbed one of the ‘most breath-taking cinemas in the world’ by the Financial Times – follows the sale of a string of pubs Alasdair invested in, including The Pymore Inn, The Antelope Inn at Hazelbury Bryan, The Elm Tree Inn at Langton Herring, and The World’s End in Almer.
Bridport Arts Centre, which he leases out, is also available and Alasdair is keen to hear from people interested in forming a community bid for it.
He said: “I want to simplify things. I’ve taken the decision with my wife that we will steadily get out of everything we’ve done over the last few years, including the arts centre. I want to actually enjoy my time in Dorset rather than worry about all these businesses.
“I was lucky enough to make a bit of money doing other things and decided to use some of it to benefit the area I love. I have invested more than £3 million to renovate the Electric Palace and support the business.
“I am more than happy to sell the arts centre to the community – it is unquestionably a community asset, one people love, and the original purpose of investing was to protect key community assets. I have already received a couple of enquiries about it and have no doubt it will pass into safe hands.
“I will see how we get on with the sale of the Electric Palace. It’s a pretty unique asset and I hope that someone who has a real love for it will step forward.
“Pretty much every public building I own is an asset of community value and I believe a very happy partnership can be built between community and commercial interests.”
The Electric Palace is due to celebrate its centenary on June 14. The whole building, including the Electric Lounge, two residential properties above and two shop units, is on the market for offers over £1.74million, but there are options to purchase the cinema, the apartments or the shops separately.
The cinema features art deco murals designed and painted in 1936 by George Biles, the locally renowned brewery sign writer.
Bridport Town Council is in the process of registering the cinema as an Asset of Community Value, which means priority will be given to local community groups to buy it, and it will be safeguarded against changes to its function.
Alasdair added: “I bought and restored the Palace because I love it and because it’s such an important part of what Bridport is all about.
“I grew up in and around Bridport and I watched my first movie there with my dad in the late 70s. It’s a truly unique gem that will celebrate its 100th birthday this year, and I’m incredibly proud to have been able to help bring it back to life.
“I will, of course, continue to love the Palace when I am no longer the owner and I will only sell it to someone who shares my love and my vision for its longevity and future – and someone that will help to ensure that future generations can enjoy this beautiful building for another 100 years!
“The Bridport Electric Palace has been nominated as an ‘Asset of Community Value’, and this will give the community of Bridport the opportunity to buy the building, if they so wish. The customers who enjoy the fantastic shows we book, and the promoters who provide the brilliant acts who play at Bridport Electric Palace, can also be assured that the business will continue to provide amazing entertainment long after ownership has changed hands.”
Anyone interested in the Electric Palace can contact Symonds and Sampson.