Grays cinema to become a ‘Spoons

Wetherspoons has been given the green light to transform The State Cinema in Grays, Thurrock. The iconic 1930s building will now be fully refurbished and turned into a pub. Restoration works to the main lobby and stalls foyer will celebrate the building’s rich heritage, and will also restore the original Compton organ. The application coincides with the announcement that Grays will receive £20m from the government’s towns fund to reconnect the town with the river. Mark Coxshall, cabinet member for regeneration and strategic planning at Thurrock Council, said: “There has been a great deal of work behind the scenes to get the State back on track, and I can’t wait to see its iconic doors finally reopen.” JD Wetherspoon said: “We are committed to developing the site and once again making it an important part of the town’s social scene. The council has a superb plan to regenerate Grays and we are delighted to be a part of that.” To send feedback, e-mail piers.wehner@eg.co.uk or tweet @PiersWehner or @EGPropertyNews