The Prince Charles Cinema is declared an Asset of Community Value by Westminster Council – which is a step forward.
Big update here, chums, and a happy one. The Prince Charles Cinema looks to be on steadier footing going forward, with the news that Westminster Council has given it some security.
As per the PCC Bluesky account:
“We are excited to tell everyone that Westminster Council decided on May 1st that the Prince Charles Cinema would be included in the list of Assets of Community Value maintained by the Council under section 87 of the Localism Act 2011.”
The venue isn’t entirely out of the woods, and still needs to secure a long term lease. But it’s a very useful step in the right direction.
Of course, there are lower profile independent cinemas still struggling, and please alert us to any that need help/support in the comments.
Our original story from January is here…
The Prince Charles Cinema has launched a petition to save the iconic venue after its landlords demanded the addition of a break clause to their contract – which could see the operators forced to vacate the premises as early as March 2026.
According to The Prince Charles, landlords Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their parent company Criterion Capital have requested the addition to the cinema’s contract, which is due for renewal in September this year. This would allow Zedwell to seek planning permission to redevelop the building – and to force The Prince Charles out with six months’ notice if successful.
The Prince Charles currently sits on Leicester Place – a literal stone’s throw from Leicester Square, and presumably an incredibly valuable slice of real estate pie for Criterion Capital. Criterion recently came under scrutiny for the acquisition and subsequent closure of the world’s first YMCA building in London, which is shutting its doors next month.
“We are beyond disappointed that our landlords Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital, have demanded the inclusion of a break clause in our new lease,” The Prince Charles said.
“Losing The Prince Charles Cinema would mean losing not just an iconic cultural institution, but also an engine for the economy of the West End that brings people from all over London and the surrounding area to watch films, shop and eat and drink. This would have repercussions way beyond the building itself.”
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The Prince Charles opened its doors as a theatre venue in 1962, before converting to a cinema in the mid-sixties. Known for an eclectic programme, including all-night movie marathons, Q&A screenings and classic films alongside the latest less-blockbuster-y fare, the two-screen cinema has more famous fans than maybe any other in the UK – with the likes of Paul Thomas Anderson, Edgar Wright, and Quentin Tarantino all singing its praises at one time or another. Following a Q&A with the director, an official Kevin Smith toilet cubicle was opened in 2007.
Paul Thomas Anderson told Time Out Magazine in 2021: “The Prince Charles has a place in my heart. It’s the people, the programming, the accessibility, feeling, texture… you cannot go wrong. You also know that on any given day, you can close your eyes, press your finger to the programme, and you’ll hit something great. It’s like tuning into your favourite radio station.”
A petition has been launched to persuade Zedwell LSQ Ltd to resume negotiations – you can sign that here.
