There is uncertainty over the future of the former EMD Cinema in Walthamstow after it was sold to an unexpected buyer.

Despite a previous announcement that Antic Pub Group was to purchase the much-loved former entertainment venue in Hoe Street, it has now been sold to a Chigwell-based developer RMP Prop.

Seller United Church of the Kingdom of God says RMP “acts for a variety of interests”, sparking speculation that it may lease the building to Antic.

However the pub company generally operates by purchasing the freeholds of buildings it opens as pubs.

Its leasehold arm went into administration in 2013.

Antic had held discussions with the Waltham Forest Cinema Trust over the future community use of the historic venue, but the news that it has been sold to a development company has caused concern. 

UCKG failed in repeated attempts to gain permission to turn the former cinema into a place of worship after purchasing the building 12 years ago.

There was widespread community opposition to the proposal and Waltham Forest council eventually threatened to force the sale of the building to bring it back into use.

Antic then announced it would run the venue, stating it may need to convert part of the site into homes in order to finance the venue.

Now, in a surprising move, it has emerged UCKG completed the sale to RMP on May 21.

It has not been revealed what connection has to RMP, or whether the two companies were working together on the venture.

Sam Seller is listed as the sole director of RMP on website companiesintheUK.co.uk.

It has been establish for about a year.

The company lists recent acquisitions in Walthamstow as the snooker hall on the corner of Hoe Street and Forest Road, and the building currently housing Oxfam in High Street.

There is no mention of the former EMD building.

On company's website it states: "We have a keen appetite to purchase commercial properties within the D1 and D2 planning use class, these include; day nurseries, schools, halls, places of worship, cinemas, bingo halls, gyms and any other similarly large open plan properties."

In a statement UCKG said: “The sale follows an unsolicited approach to the UCKG HelpCentre Property Acquisitions Department approximately a year ago, at a time when the building was not on the market.

“Key to the sale was that the buyer valued the Grade II listed property and was willing to give a fair price.”

Paul Hill, UCKG HelpCentre’s property acquisitions manager, added: “This amounts to a pragmatic solution that should satisfy all concerned.”

“I wish all the best to RMP Prop and everyone involved in the new ownership and plans for the future of the building.

“I hope they will be able to fully restore this lovely building and that it will be put to good use by the community, which is what we have always wanted ourselves, albeit in the form of a UCKG HelpCentre.

“We will now continue the search for a suitable property where we can create a HelpCentre in Walthamstow, in response to demand from people in the area who value the support we give.”

UKCG and Antic have both refused to reveal Antic's connection with RMP.