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London’s legendary The Prince Charles Cinema (PCC) could be faced with closure.
The off-Leicester Square two-screen indie, a beloved repertory cinema for the city’s cinephiles and cult movie lovers, is threatened with potential redevelopment.
According to the PCC, its landlords, Zedwell LSQ Ltd and parent company Criterion Capital, are demanding a rent ‘far above market rate’ and a new clause which, if triggered, would leave the PCC homeless with six months’ notice.
‘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 six months’ notice, should they receive planning permission to redevelop the building,’ said the PCC in a statement, ‘which we interpret as a clear intention to do so’.
The Prince Charles ‘intends to tirelessly pursue legal proceedings to contest the landlord’s valuation, in order to secure renewal at market rate and safety from any redevelopment projects’.
Criterion Capital denies ‘unreasonable intent’ in negotiating the new rent and break clause and claims that its position has been ‘mischaracterised’.
‘A break clause is standard commercial practice, reflecting long-term property planning, not unreasonable intent,’ says the company’s statement. ‘Our rental expectations are based on a fair market assessment, and we remain open to constructive dialogue within legal frameworks to resolve disagreements.’
‘We are committed to curating a portfolio that balances community benefit with sustainable commercial arrangements, and mischaracterising our position through public campaigns hinders resolution.’
Despite difficult times for many cinemas, The PCC is booming. Its annual programme of more than 850 films and events pulls in 250,000 punters a year, without a penny in public funding.
One of the West End’s last true indie cinemas, the premises date back to the early 1960s when it opened as the Prince Charles Theatre. These days, it runs a packed programme of and counts movie luminaries like Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright and Paul Thomas Anderson among its most devoted fans.
It’s a key part of London’s cultural landscape and the fight for its survival should a boost an army of film lovers – and filmmakers.
Support it in the meantime by using the hashtag #LongLivePCC on X and Instagram.
Midnight marathons, plastic spoons and shagging rabbits: an oral history of Prince Charles Cinema.
Find out where the PCC ranks on our list of the 25 best cinemas in London.