Former cinema faces demolition after fire

Published on Monday 25 May 2009 22:11

A HISTORIC former cinema in Glasgow is facing demolition after fire ripped through it in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The remains of the Coliseum in the city's southside are likely to be torn down after the blaze caused the building's roof to collapse.

It took about 50 firefighters nearly six hours to bring the flames under control. No-one was injured in the incident.

The fire broke out at around 1:30am on Monday at the listed building in Eglington Street, next to the popular O2 Academy live music venue.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said five pumps and three high-reach appliances were used to fight the flames at the structure, which was designed by the renowned theatre architect Frank Matcham.

The road was closed at Cumberland Street and at Norfolk Street, with diversions set up at a main artery into the city centre.

The Coliseum had fallen into disrepair and was on the Register for Scotland Buildings at Risk list.

Originally a theatre, it opened in 1905 and was based on the now demolished Ardwick Empire in Manchester, and seated almost 3,000 people.

It started showing films full-time in 1925 and it was the first venue in Glasgow to show a talking picture in January 1929.

The B-listed building closed as a cinema in 1980 and was used as a County Bingo hall from the late 1980s until 2003.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said: "We were able to control the fire in the early hours of the morning, but because of the damage caused to the building, it has been left in an unsafe condition.

"The roof has come off, and it would appear the damage inside is also quite substantial.

"Due to the damage, we have not been able to get inside, but we are waiting on building control to decide what will happen. At this stage, it looks like it will be demolished."