Though the cinema has just been given extra protection
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.
The PCC announced it was at risk in January and at the start of May, the cinema was listed as an Asset of Community Value by Westminster Council. This means the venue has extra protections, namely that if the building is put up for sale, the local community can invoke a six-month moratorium on the sale and raise the funds to bid for its purchase, similar to what happened with Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. However, the ACV designation doesn’t mean that the landlord is obliged to continue the existing lease or even sell the building to a community group, so the PCC is still fighting for its future.
Writing in a statement on its website, the PCC said, “We believe that any truly great venue is built on the shoulders of those who work within and those who support it – and we couldn’t have asked for a more passionate and vocal level of support from the many thousands of you who signed the petition, bought tickets, became members or simply just kept coming through our doors. So, thank you to every one of you who took a moment to support our cause.
“And though this recognition is a huge honour, the fight continues to secure a long term lease that will enable us to invest in our future development and continue to bring the best of what we do to Leicester Place.” So the best way you can help keep the PCC open is by signing the petition and buying tickets to see a movie.
