Pub plan unveiled as historic city cinema is put up for sale

The historic venue is set to have more than half its seats ripped out so a bar can be installed in a multi-million pound deal.

The Tollcross cinema is being sold by owner City Screen to an unknown buyer.

Plans to remove the cinema's main auditorium and turn it into a bar have been lodged with Edinburgh City Council.

However films will continue to shown at the venue.

Under the proposals the two smaller screens would remain in place and the existing bar would be turned into a 31-seat third auditorium.

It is believed Stefan King, the entrepreneur who runs the Grosvenor cinema in Glasgow, has been in talks over the future of the Cameo. Mr King, whose conversion of the Glasgow cinema caused uproar when he downsized it to make way for a large bar, is also believed to be in negotiations to buy Bennets Bar, Auld Toll Bar and the Kings Arms near the Cameo.

The Cameo, which was built in 1914, has been run as an arthouse cinema since 1949, when it was bought by Jim Poole - who sold it in the early 1980s. Mr Poole's daughter, Genni Poole, said: "I am absolutely appalled, particularly as the intention seems to be to make it into a glorified bar.

"I've seen the plans and I don't think the local residents are going to be very happy about a new large bar in their midst, which is not needed in the Tollcross area."

She added: "We do not need another bar in Edinburgh. It's just ridiculous that they want to turn a beautiful cinema, which offers something different, into a bar."

Ginnie Atkinson, managing director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, said: "The Cameo has a huge heritage in the cinema community in Edinburgh.

"I am glad it is not closing. I think what is going to happen is it is going to become a slightly different type of cinema experience."

A spokesman for the Cameo said the cinema was in talks with potential buyers.

He said: "These dealings are being conducted solely between the senior staff of City Screen and potential buyers.

"A final agreement of sale is likely to be completed before the end of the year.

"I have been informed that any condition of sale will not include a safeguard over the continued use of the main auditorium."

He added: "The designated usage of the new building will be entirely down to the choices of the new owners.

"Planning permission to greatly alter the internal aspects of the building has been lodged with the council. These plans are open to inspection from the public."

The cinema, which has been described by author Quentin Tarantino as his favourite cinema anywhere in the world, opened Pulp Fiction, starring John Travolta and Bruce Willis, as the showpiece of the 1994 Edinburgh International Film Festival.