The future of Twickenham Film Studios is hanging in the balance again after a mystery buyer pulled out of the sale for personal reasons.
The future of Twickenham Film Studios is hanging in the balance again after a mystery buyer pulled out of the sale for personal reasons.
The buyer had put down a £100,000 non-returnable deposit, which will now be used to help maintain the studios while they are still up for sale.
The joint-administrators of the site, Begbies Traynor, now aim to remarket the business to all those who have previously expressed an interest.
Company spokesman Gerald Krasner said: “As soon as someone makes an offer, we’ll take it.”
There was concern that the studios would be demolished to make way for housing, after developers Taylor Wimpey made a bid for the site.
But the developers withdrew their bid in April following strong objections from local residents and Richmond upon Thames Council.
Today Mr Krasner ended any speculation that the studios would again be under threat from developers, saying they would be sold with the staff and this was the ‘only way’.
Interest in the site has rapidly increased since the collapse of the sale was announced on Wednesday.
Begbies Traynor confirmed they have sent out 52 sales packs to prospective buyers and Mr Krasner said the phone has been ringing ‘non-stop’.
Residents mounted a fierce campaign to save the studios after they went into administration in February 2012, just a year before its centenary.
Almost 5000 people have signed the petition on the ‘Save Twickenham Film Studios’ (STFS) website and major celebrities including Sir Paul McCartney, Steven Spielberg and Colin Firth haven spoken out in support of the studios.
BBC Television presenter and Richmond resident Lynn Faulds Wood is also part of the STFS group.
The studios were built in 1913 and are still considered one of the country’s best film-making facilities alongside Pinewood and Shepperton Studios.
Over a 99-year history, the studios have been used by the Beatles to film their smash hits A Hard Day’s Night and Help and in 1965, Michael Caine starred there as a Cockney Womaniser in Alfie.
Many classic films were made at the studios during the 1980s including; A Fish Called Wanda, Shirley Valentine, An American Werewolf in Paris and Blade Runner and most recently, the studios were used in the production of War Horse, Iron Lady and My Week with Marilyn.
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