Prince Charles Cinema could be opening up a new location in London despite its ongoing battle to save its iconic Leicester Square home.
Earlier this year it was revealed the cinema, beloved by Hollywood directors, was being ‘bullied into closure’ over fears the billionaire landlord would redevelop the area.
But the cinema’s head of programming, Paul Vickery, said the potential new locations aren’t the cinema trying to ‘shift operations’ as they fight for their existence in Leicester Square.
He explains: ‘We were looking for a pre-existing venue that needed a bit of love, which we could turn into a new site. Ideally, we’d want to go on to add a third or fourth space.’
A potential new location for the indie cinema could soon pop up in East London – Stratford has been brought up in discussions.
‘There are plenty of students and loads of new-build properties that have sprung up recently. But it also feels like Stratford is still trying to find its feet and figure out what it is,’ Vickery added.
But the fight to save the original cinema, which opened in 1962 and began showing films at discount prices years later, is far from over.
Vickery said: ‘You feel the responsibility, but in the best possible way. You’re not just some pokey cinema in central London, what we do means something to people.’
A petition to save the cinema, fittingly called ‘Save the PCC’, has already garnered over 165,000 signatures.
The current lease for the building is meant to expire in September, but campaigners say the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1954 means they are entitled to a new lease.
But the threat of closure comes at a time when the cinema has seen record numbers, with tickets sold at an ‘unprecedented level of capacity’.
Film-makers have praised the venue, with Quentin Tarantino describing it as ‘Mecca for lovers of quality films’.
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John Waters, who directed the 1980s hit Hairspray, called it ‘the most depraved and beautiful movie theatre in London’.
Zedwell, which is controlled by billionaire property developer Asif Aziz, has reportedly demanded a new break clause which would require the cinema to vacate with a six-month notice if planning permission for redevelopment.
The cinema claims this reveals their ‘clear intention’ to repurpose the building.
‘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,’ Save the PCC said.
Criterion Capital previously said in a statement: ‘Bubble Chamber Limited has initiated lease renewal proceedings on Prince Charles Cinema and the landlord has responded in accordance with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.’
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