Potential redevelopment of the cinema’s site could be on the cards
The Prince Charles Cinema is one of the most beloved indie picture houses – and one of the last remaining ones in central London – in town. Beginning life as a theatre in 1962, it then became a porn cinema before shifting to more traditional film programming in the nineties.
As well as screening an excellent mix of blockbusters, arthouse films and cult classics, the PCC hosts regular film seasons, all-nighters, double bills and sing-a-long screenings, totalling more than 850 films shown each year. In a time where the industry is struggling, the PCC is thriving, notching up a record attendance of more than 250,000 visitors last year, and counting directors like Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson amongst its fans.
Despite its popularity and success, the off-Leicester Square cinema is now under threat of closure as landlords Zedwell LSQ Ltd and its parent company Criterion Capital want to raise the rent and insert a new break clause, which if triggered, would leave the PCC homeless with six months’ notice – a move that the cinema believes signals an intention to redevelop the site.
Writing in a statement on its website, the PCC said, “We are disappointed that our landlords Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their parent company Criterion Capital have demanded the inclusion of a break clause that would require us to vacate the premises at 6 months’ notice, should they receive planning permission to redevelop the building, which we interpret as a clear intention to do so.
“Moreover, they are also demanding a rent far above market rates, at a level which no cinema proprietor would consider reasonable and refusing to supply any information to back this up.”
Though Criterion Capital has said that the new lease terms were not unreasonable, the PCC has stated that “we will be raising legal proceedings to contest their valuation of the lease in the strongest possible terms.” The cinema has also launched a petition to garner support, which you can sign below.