Reimagining a Cultural Landmark: Delivering Soho Theatre Walthamstow
The recently-completed Grade II* listed former Granada Cinema building is a project of restoration, reinvention — and ultimately, reconnection.
As delivery architects for this extraordinary transformation, Bond Bryan has played a pivotal role in helping to bring one of London’s most cherished heritage cinemas back to life: a place where local identity and global culture now meet.
Originally built in 1929, the former Granada Cinema was a bold collaboration between theatre architect Cecil Masey and set designer Theodore Komisarjevsky. Their vision — an Alhambra-inspired auditorium layered with Moorish detail — created a rare and opulent architectural gem. But after decades of decline, the building stood silent: its grandeur fading, its future uncertain.
After years of local campaigning to revive this much-loved cultural landmark, Waltham Forest Council stepped in and purchased the building in 2019. This was part of the legacy commitment as the Mayor’s first-ever London Borough of Culture.
Soho Theatre was part of the campaigning group and brought a vision of the building’s potential to the council. Together it was envisioned to be a modern cultural powerhouse—a theatre for everyone. Our challenge was to bring that vision to life.
As delivery architects, our role was to translate a complex and conservation-sensitive design into a fully coordinated and buildable reality — working hand in glove with Waltham Forest Council, Soho Theatre, Historic England, and the contractor Willmott Dixon Interiors.
The transformation, originally budgeted at £30 million, was shaped through extensive consultation with local people to ensure the design supports the borough’s evolving cultural scene and night-time economy.
Design with legacy in mind
The result is a modern, 960-seat multi-purpose cultural venue — one that breathes new life into a cherished local landmark.
The theatre now includes a fully restored and refurbished main auditorium, complete with a new stage and seating arrangement to enhance both sightlines and acoustics. Three new bar areas, two studio spaces, a media suite and a café. Ensuring the building caters to a wide and diverse audience — from local residents and community groups to visitors, performers and business events.
Throughout the project, the building’s Grade II* status demanded an approach grounded in respect and restraint. Together with a wider team of area experts, we championed the careful integration of restored heritage with future-facing performance space.
This included:
- Full restoration of the main auditorium and ziggurat ceiling
- Fully restored five x 100-year-old chandeliers in the main auditorium with Hall Conservation
- Refurbishment of the neo-classical foyer and original Spanish Baroque façade, including the distinctive Dutch gable entrance.
- An “arrested decay” approach in the auditorium walls, intentionally preserving the patina and character of the historic fabric while modernising the space.
- Detailed colour analysis and conservation work to ensure all new interventions blended subtly and authentically with the original scheme.
“We are thrilled that after years of dedicated restoration the former Granada cinema building reopened its doors as Soho Theatre Walthamstow this May. The revival of this iconic venue embodies our vision of Waltham Forest as a vibrant neighbourhood where there is culture on every corner.”
A theatre made for people
From the outset, this was more than a construction project. It was a civic effort — a collaborative undertaking shaped by shared purpose.
“Our investment will create new job opportunities for local people, provide an important boost to the night-time economy, and open up the joy of creating and performing to a new generation. The long-term benefits will make a real difference for everyone that lives, works, or studies in Waltham Forest.” explains Cllr Ahsan Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, London Borough of Waltham Forest.
The theatre is a legacy project for Waltham Forest’s designation as the first London Borough of Culture and is a key cultural anchor in the regeneration of Walthamstow town centre. With community programming and educational outreach embedded in its operation, the venue offers more than performance — it offers participation.
Soho Theatre has committed to a year-long programme of training, events and artistic development workshops for people who live, work or study in the borough. And the building has already created more than 60 new jobs, with social value delivery focused on apprenticeships, youth training and local supply chain engagement. Over 4,000 hours have been donated by the project team to support unemployed people into work.
Notably, more than £6.7 million in social and economic value was invested into Waltham Forest’s communities during the project’s delivery — a significant achievement led by Willmott Dixon Interiors, encompassing job creation, skills training, and a strong commitment to using locally based supply chain partners.
Complex spaces, contemporary standards
Transforming a derelict 5,000sqm, four-and-a-half-storey structure into a modern, fully accessible cultural venue demanded an inventive yet pragmatic approach.
The project involved major technical upgrades, including new lifts, stair cores, mechanical and electrical systems, and fire strategy coordination — all while preserving listed elements. Working closely with the wider design team and specialist contractors, we helped thread modern services into the historic fabric with minimal intervention, ensuring full accessibility and enhanced user experience without compromise.
The internal reconfiguration was carefully designed to optimise audience flow and operational efficiency — from the main entrance to the refurbished foyers and bar areas, and into the auditorium. The result is a building that feels authentic to its era while meeting the highest standards of comfort and performance.
“We’re proud to celebrate the completion of the former Granada cinema building – a stunning restoration of a 1930s cinema-turned-theatre. Thanks to the vision of the London Borough of Waltham Forest and the expertise of Willmott Dixon Interiors, the building has been transformed into a vibrant, multi-use space for the local community. It’s been a pleasure working with both parties on bringing this historic gem back to life.”
Sustainability by design
In response to the climate crisis, retrofitting the existing structure was a conscious and necessary choice. The decision not to demolish and rebuild preserved a significant amount of embodied carbon — while celebrating the craftsmanship and embedded memory of the original building.
“Restoring the Grade II* listed former Granada cinema has been an incredibly rewarding journey. Not only have we brought this much-loved building back to life as a world-class entertainment venue, but we have also delivered substantial social and economic value for the local community.
“Our project team has successfully balanced the preservation of the building’s heritage with the need for a modern, functional space. We’re proud to have played a part in its revival and are excited to see the positive impact it will have on the local community for years to come.” — Simon Wilson, Operations Director, Willmott Dixon Interiors
The scheme includes sustainable interventions across the board: air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, energy-efficient insulation, solar panels, LED lighting, and the use of eco-friendly materials such as reclaimed wood and low-VOC paints. The project is targeting BREEAM ‘Very Good’ and has committed to 425 tonnes of CO₂ reduction through social value contracts and energy efficiency measures.
“This project was about much more than restoring a building — it was about reigniting its civic and cultural value. Our role as delivery architects was to help ensure that this complex, heritage-led vision became a fully functioning, modern venue that serves its community for generations to come. We’re proud to have played our part in giving Walthamstow back this extraordinary space.”
A place reconnected
For us, this was never simply about restoring a building. It was about re-establishing a connection — between the past and the present, between architecture and community.
Soho Theatre Walthamstow now stands as a working, living building. It brings joy, jobs and performance back to Waltham Forest’s cultural landscape. And it offers a new kind of civic stage — one where heritage is not hidden but celebrated.
We’re proud to have helped deliver this ambitious vision — and proud to see the curtain rise once again.
