Inquiry into Blitz cinema dropped

Efforts to turn the National Picture Theatre in Hull into a memorial to the 1,200 civilians who died in the Blitz during the Second World War were plunged into uncertainty after councillors backed two rival proposals. A public inquiry was due to be held in January, but the owners have now withdrawn applications to erect a new three-storey building behind the old frontage, which would have used the Swan Inn next door as part of the restaurant.

Instead they are now looking at just refurbishing the pub. The cinema is the only blitzed civilian building ruin left standing in England and the National Civilian WW2 Memorial Trust wants to turn it into a memorial and educational resource.

They had hoped to restore the Swan Inn to its original layout and build a microbrewery at the rear. Secretary Alan Canvess said they were still hopeful of realising their plans for the theatre. He said: “We hope the owner is willing to sell us the National Picture Theatre, even if he is keeping the Swan Inn. The grants for development were tied to the theatre, not the pub.”