This Grade II-listed Art Deco building has faced an uncertain future ever since a fire tore through it two years ago. Having opened in 1930, the former Gaumont cinema was a prominent fixture on Smethwick’s Windmill Lane, but now requires substantial redevelopment—and it could be you who does it.
With a guide price of £250,000, the 19,030 sqft property at 118 Windmill Lane is going up for auction at the end of the month. Originally a 1,950-seat cinema, it later became a bingo hall and then the Victoria Suite banqueting venue before closing, and a fire caused extensive damage to the vacant building in May 2024.
“This is a really striking building with a long history in Smethwick, but there’s no disguising the scale of the work needed after the fire,” said Carl Finch, Director at BTG Eddisons Property Auctions. “It’s a challenging property, particularly given its Grade II-listed status, but it’s also a substantial building in a prominent location, with almost 20,000 sq ft of space.”
“It will be fascinating to see what sort of interest it attracts and, ultimately, what a new owner decides to do with a building that has been such a well-known part of the local landscape for so many years.”
118 Windmill Lane
Located about four miles east of Birmingham city centre and within a mile of Smethwick town centre, the vacant building at 118 Windmill Lane backs onto the Windmill Shopping Centre. The property 1768 sqm of internal space over four levels, with vehicle access on both sides.
118 Windmill Lane will feature in the BTG Eddisons Property Auctions live stream auction on October 28 to 29. To register a bid, or just learn more about this property, head to the BTG Eddisons Property Auctions website.
