Strong week in Westminster — momentum building for Save the UPP
It’s been a big week for the Save the UPP campaign and one that shows just how much momentum is building behind the cinema.
Yesterday, Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP secured an adjournment debate in Parliament and spoke powerfully about the Ultimate Picture Palace, making the case for stronger support for community assets and calling directly for the cinema to be given the long-term lease from Oriel College that it needs.
You can watch the debate here:
And read the full transcript here.
Full Transcript of Community Asset Debate 20 April 2026
DownloadIn a speech that was both personal and compelling, she described the UPP as:
“a vibrant place, defying national trends in ticket sales. At a time when thousands of community assets have closed, the UPP stands as a reminder that a different model is possible, and that model works.”
She went on to say:
“I've heard many wonderful stories about how this small, community cinema has shaped local people's lives. One of the most moving was hearing of a New Year's Eve screening 50 years ago when a resident who had moved to Oxford previously finally felt at home in my city. Dame Pippa Harris, co-producer of Oscar winning film Hamnet, came to the UPP as a young person and says, “big dreams started in that little cinema. And I'm lucky my dream came true.” Perhaps my favourite quote about the cinema comes from the sadly late, true Oxford original Bill Heine, when he said of his approach to the cinema when he ran it, “look, if you're going to sail, why not sail in dangerous waters? Who wants to play around on the beach."
And made the stakes crystal clear:
“When communities lose [their community assets], they don't just lose bricks and mortar — they lose connection, pride and opportunity.”
Hearing the cinema spoken about on the floor of the House of Commons in these terms was a powerful moment. It reflects what so many of you — our audiences, volunteers, and supporters — know already. That the cinema is extremely valuable and loved by so many people and that it deserves to be given a bright future.
This level of national attention matters. It shows that the future of the UPP isn’t just a local issue — it’s part of a much bigger conversation about how we protect places across the UK that bring the nation’s communities together.
Support growing closer to home
That national moment came off the back of a strong show of local support over the weekend, when alongside a visit from Rt Hon Carla Denyer MP, MP for Bristol Central and former Green Party co-leader, several local Green Party councillors visited the cinema.
They came to see the UPP in action, meet our team of staff and volunteers, and voice their support for the campaign. Their visit was a clear signal that this campaign continues to resonate across the political spectrum — locally and nationally.
What this means
Taken together, this week marks a real step forward. Our campaign is being heard at the highest level and that support is growing and we were delighted that the Minister for Housing, Communities, & Local Government, Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, swiftly accepted Anneliese’s invitation to visit the UPP to learn more about our campaign and we will keep supporters up to date on any changes.
If you haven’t already, you can help keep this momentum going by sharing the debate, signing the petition, and spreading the word.