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BBC News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Futurist: Site of former Birmingham cinema gets listed status
The site of a "pioneering" former cinema has been granted listed status. The Futurist, on John Bright Street in Birmingham, survived two world wars and was the first in the city to show "talkies", according to Historic England, these were films with recorded dialogue played in sync with pictures, as opposed to the silent films played without chiefs said the building, which is now a Caribbean restaurant, gave an early example of cinema architecture with brick, stone and terracotta dressings. "Given its age, The Futurist still looks fantastic," said Historic England's Midlands director Louise Brennan. "It has an imposing presence befitting of its pioneering role. "It survived attack from the Luftwaffe [in World War Two] and the redevelopment of Birmingham." The Futurist was designed in 1914 and eventually opened five years later as construction was delayed by World War One. It was then damaged in an air raid in the Birmingham Blitz of November 1940, before reopening again three years later. Later, the building was known as the Cannon Cinema, before it eventually closed in September 1991. In subsequent years, the building has been converted into an adult club and then a bar and restaurant. Listed buildings are those of special architectural or historical interest. The Futurist has been granted Grade II status by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic Croft, director of the Twentieth Century Society which campaigns to save outstanding buildings, said it had been a "real survivor". "Since closing as a cinema it's been an adult nightclub, shisha lounge, and a seafood restaurant," she said. "But no matter the times, the value and versatility of 20th Century heritage endures. "It's wonderful to see this handsome old gent of a building now recognised with national listing." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wrexham's Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney help promote club globally
Five years ago, many tourists thinking of coming to the UK might not have even heard of Wrexham, let alone decided to thanks to the rapid rise of the north Wales city's football club - backed by Hollywood superstars - and an accompanying documentary series, people from across the globe are flocking to the sealed a third consecutive promotion on Saturday, and will play in the Championship next season - one division below the promised land of the Premier local council said the county has seen a 20% growth in visitor numbers year-on-year, largely due to the club's growing fans of actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been making pilgrimages to Wrexham since they officially took over the club in this week, Reynolds revealed he was looking forward to "many more" years at the city after their latest victory. "While they're here [visitors] stay in the Wrexham area and look at other sites we've got like the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct World Heritage Site, Erddig Hall, Chirk Castle," said councillor Nigel Williams. "They realise what a beautiful place it is."The lead member for business, economy and tourism said he believed the football club and its hit television series, Welcome To Wrexham, has gained the attention of people from around the world who have visited, keen on finding out what else the area has to offer. Much of the international awareness of Wrexham comes from the FX documentary series Welcome to Wrexham, which is just about to start its fourth season showing life behind the scenes at the for a shirt at the Wrexham FC shop, Shane Lester from Australia said he had "never even heard of the place until we saw the documentary". "It's been really entertaining and because it gets shown after the results have happened, we haven't been following it like that, we're living it as we see it on TV." But the bulk of the recent tourists are from the USA and page of the club shop's visitor book has entries from Ontario, Virginia, Texas and and SallyAnne Andersson from California also credit the documentary for bringing them to said: "We've seen the show and figured we couldn't drive through without checking out the place. "I think they did a really good job on the show for Americans to teach them the game."The couple even went to watch Wrexham play Chelsea when the club toured the USA last summer, with Brett adding: "Phil Parkinson [Wrexham's manager] was right in front of us." With Wrexham's upcoming Championship season now on the horizon, Reynolds himself has described his time with the club as "one of the greatest experiences of my life".Writing on X earlier this week, Reynolds said: "This club is the sum of its supporters."Before we showed up they'd saved it multiple times. It's a temple as much as a football pitch. Wrexham—AFC has been one of the greatest experiences of my life."He added: "It's hard to avoid immediately starting work on next season - but important to take the moment in. Looking back and looking forward feels really good right now."I think I speak for [McElhenney] when I say, thank you for the greatest four years and here's to many more." Rob Clarke runs the Mad4Movies DVD and bookstore in the Butcher's Market, with the lifelong Wrexham fan making several appearances in the documentary. He said a hardcore of fans were there when the club was struggling through tough times but he was delighted new supporters are now along for the ride."The fact they're coming from all over the world is brilliant, the more the merrier," he said."They come in, put their money where their mouth is, come across to Wrexham, go in the club shop, spend money there - everyone's welcome. "It's brilliant to see."
