Prince Charles Cinema designated an Asset of Community Value

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As some of London’s cinemas close their doors (Curzon, for instance, recently shut its Mayfair branch), others are being handed a lifeline. The Prince Charles Cinema — a cult favourite known for its film marathons, sing-alongs, and 35mm screenings — has officially been granted Asset of Community Value (ACV) status. This means that if the building is put up for sale, local residents will have the first opportunity to buy it back.

But the fight for the cinema’s future is far from over. The ACV designation doesn’t compel the building’s owner to sell to the community, nor does it guarantee the renewal of the venue’s lease. The Prince Charles Cinema is still battling for a long-term contract. At the time of writing, more than 164,000 people have signed a petition calling for its protection (you can sign it here).

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“While this recognition is a huge honour, the fight continues. We need a long-term lease so we can invest in our future and carry on doing what we love — showing films at Leicester Place,” the PCC team said in a statement.

The Prince Charles is famed for its wildly eclectic programming — from The Sound of Music karaoke nights to all-night Lord of the Rings marathons. It’s London’s answer to the New Beverly Cinema in LA, beloved not only by local cinephiles but also by the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Hugh Jackman, Margot Robbie, and Andrew Garfield.

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London currently has around 800 cinema screens, most of them housed in multiplexes. But retro venues like the Electric Cinema, Rio, Phoenix, or the Regent Street Cinema offer a very different experience — where the atmosphere matters just as much as the picture on the screen. According to the UK Cinema Association, British cinemas saw around 123 million visits in 2023 — that’s 18% down on pre-pandemic levels. Still, despite the rise of streaming, venues like the PCC continue to draw loyal audiences through their doors.

Cover photo: Gareth Milner, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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