MORE than two years of uncertainty is finally at an end after it was announced the former ABC Cinema will be transformed into a themed restaurant bar, writes Becky Procter.

The Redditch Advertiser can exclusively reveal cinema bosses were due to clinch a deal with E&J Developments yesterday.

Speculation over the Unicorn Hill site has been rife since it was closed, boarded up and put up for sale in March 1999.

A spokesman for the former ABC cinema said on Friday: "We have agreed to sell it to E&J Developments and the contracts have been exchanged unconditionally. The sale is yet to be completed."

A spokesman for Bath-based E&J Developments remained tight-lipped on the cost of the deal and did not want to comment on the project in great detail.

But the spokesman said: "We are planning a themed restaurant and bar. We will refurbish the current building and will not be knocking it down.

"There will be a large interior design project inside it."

The spokesman added: "This is excellent news for the town, there is so much scope in Redditch. I think it's an absolutely superb location for it."

Redditch Council's central director Paul Patten said: "We are delighted the site is to be utilised for improving the entertainment in the town centre.

"There has been so much speculation, but if it does end up being some form of themed restaurant it will be extremely good news."

Acting on behalf of E&J Developments in buying the building is Fletcher Morgan, a Cardiff-based firm of chartered surveyors.

Richard Ryan, spokesman for Fletcher Morgan said: "We believe an outline planning application was submitted to the council last week to change the building to A3 use."

The A3 classification could include restaurants, bars, wine bars and take-aways.

Mr Ryan added E&J Developments was also developing other leisure schemes in Cardiff and Glasgow.

Redditch Council confirmed an application for the former ABC building had now been received.