Words by Ed King
A local councillor is spearheading a campaign to save the Kingstanding Odeon and bring it back into community use – after what West Midlands police have called “suspected arson” damaged the Grade II listed building earlier this month.
Also known as the Mecca Bingo Hall, which closed its doors in June 2026, the prominent community hub is situated on the corner of Kettlehouse Road and the more commonly known Kingstanding Circle.
Opening as an Odeon cinema on 22 July 1935, the local landmark was taken over by Top Rank Leisure in the early sixties and converted into a bingo hall – which served as a meeting place and social hub for local residents for over 60 years.
But in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday 11 August, emergency services were called to the site after flames and smoke had been seen coming out of the boarded-up entrance.
Speaking to Kingstanding Local, a spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service confirmed: “Shortly after 4.05am on Tuesday 11 August, we responded to Kettlehouse Road, Kingstanding.
“A fire engine from Erdington and a fire engine from Perry Barr attended, the first arriving within five minutes of being mobilised.”
They added: “This was a small fire affecting a porch foyer in a two-storey building, that used to be a bingo hall.
“Firefighters extinguished the fire and secured the property. We left this incident at 5.21am.”
Cllr McAuley had contacted the building’s current landlords, The Rank Group PLC, only weeks before to warn against the potential dangers the abandoned building posed – including fire or potential arson attacks.
After his fears became a reality, and the local community rallied around a cherished part of their local history, Cllr McAuly seized the public interest and formed an online petition to ‘Save Kingstanding’s Odeon’ and being the local landmark back into community use.
“I’m very passionate about the building myself,” Cllr McAuley told Kingstanding Local, “and now it was left empty, I wanted to know what additional security measures were put in place to keep the building safe.
“My massive concern was in case the building was broken into or set on fire… so I wanted the security details, a first point of contact, [so we could reach them] straight away.”
After not initially receiving a response from Rank, Cllr McAuley tells that the national leisure group are now being “very cooperative” and are working with him over the building’s safety concerns.
“The recent fire at our former Kingstanding venue was very worrying and we share the local concerns about this incident,” confirmed a spokesperson from Rank. “Our security contractors have attended and re-secured the building, and we have invested in additional alarms and smoke detectors.”
They added: “We understand the broader safety concerns and are also engaging with representatives from Birmingham City Council and local residents about security and next steps for the property.”
But Cllr McAuley wants to futureproof as well as fireproof the community asset, where hundreds of Kingstanding locals have treasured memories and shared histories, and has launched an online petition to ‘Save Kingstanding’s Odeon – Turn the former Mecca into a Community Hub’.
“It’s more than just an old cinema,” tells Cllr McAuley, “It’s a much loved iconic landmark that holds generations of memories for local people. It’s brought families, friends together, it’s provided entertainment for the community, and it became an important part of Kingstanding’s history and identity.
“It’s a common landmark that everyone recognises and associates with Oscott, Kingstanding, and Great Barr.”
He adds: “I’d like to see the council take ownership of the building and put it back to the community use as a community hub. Something we can use, local residents can use.”
Ideas being suggested for the potential use of the iconic building are as a youth centre, a community library, a performing arts space, a warm space and social hub for older residents, a space for a community groups and volunteer led initiatives, a nursery, and a local advice centre.
Other local residents have further chipped in their ideas on social media, with several calling for it to continue providing entertainment – such as a bingo hall and cinema – alongside becoming a wider community hub.
At the time of writing, the online petition has amassed nearly 2500 signatures.
But Cllr McAuley is looking for as much support as he can muster for a project he believes is important to many across the area.
“We’ve got about 2500 signatures from the local community [since launching],” tells Cllr McAuley. “So, I think that in itself is a sign of what the community wants. They want to retain it for our community.”
“There’s 30,000 people combined between Kingstanding and Oscott, “he adds. “Obviously, I’m not going to get 30,000 signatures, but my minimum target at the moment is to reach 5,000.”
The online petition, hosted at the www.kingstanding.org website, also suggests working with Historic England to protect the longstanding piece of local heritage.
For more on the ‘Save Kingstanding’s Odeon – Turn the former Mecca into a Community Hub’ petition, and an option to sign up, visit www.kingstanding.org/petitions/save-kingstandings-odeon-turn-the-former-mecca-into-a-community-hub
For more on Cllr Martin McAuley (Oscott Ward, Reform UK) visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/councillors/145/martin_mcauley
West Midlands Police have asked for anyone with information around the suspected arson attack on 11 August to contact them quoting crime reference number 20/358821/26.
