A group campaigning for the former Regal Cinema and Gala Bingo hall in Kingston to be turned into a community arts centre will hold its founding meeting next week.

The hall is owned by CNM Estates who unveiled plans earlier this year  for penthouse apartments with the possibility of a boutique cinema, restaurant and heritage centre.

But the Save The Regal group oppose CNM Estates' ideas describing them as "butchery".

Their campaign will meet at the Royal Oak pub in Coombe Road, New Malden, on Friday, September 13.

The meeting will finalise the campaign’s constitution and set out goals including fundraising and gaining charity status.

The campaign is organised by the Kingston Regal Arts Association, and seeks to restore to building to a multi-purpose theatre, alternative cinema, concert hall, exhibition space and conference centre, preserving the 2,445-seat auditorium.

The meeting starts at 8pm.