A film society which led a campaign against a church converting the former EMD cinema in Walthamstow into a place of worship has welcomed the sale of the venue to a pub company.

The grade II*-listed building in Hoe Street closed in 2002 and was purchased by Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), which failed in two bids to change its use.

Waltham Forest’s McGuffin Film Society led a 12-year campaign to re-open the building as an entertainment venue.

It was announced yesterday that Antic Ltd, which runs the Red Lion in Leytonstone and the Leyton Technical pubs, has purchased the building.

Waltham Forrest Cinema Trust, working with Soho Theatre, has proposed to buy the site and turn it into a mixed entertainment venue.

The trust said it has held “positive” talks with Antic over the building’s future.

McGuffin is now hoping the purchase will secure the EMD’s future an entertainment venue.

Spokesman Bill Hodgson said: “We are obviously delighted that UCKG has finally conceded defeat in their schemes for the EMD Cinema.

“This is the first time in Britain that UCKG has been forced to abandon plans to convert a historic entertainment venue for their activities."

For more on this story, see this week's Guardian - out Thursday