Legendary West End venue the Prince Charles Cinema has been saved from closure.
The Leicester Square-based theatre launched a petition in January 2025, when it became locked in a dispute with its landlords, which it claimed were demanding a rent that "no cinema proprietor would consider reasonable". The petition asked the landlords to withdraw the break clause from the lease, and to negotiate a more reasonable rate of rent.
A few months later, the cinema was declared an "asset of community value", though its future still wasn't guaranteed. Now, almost two years after its future was first in question, the PCC has announced it has signed a new 25-year lease with no break clause.
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Effectively, this means the indie venue can continue under its current conditions for at least another 25 years — a major victory at a time when beloved London businesses are closing at quite a rate.
In an Instagram post announcing the good news, the PCC thanked "every one of the 168,645 people (and counting) who signed the petition", as well as "the Soho Society who recommended that Westminster Council officially designate us an Asset of Community Value, and the Council who did so".
To continue supporting the PCC, check its upcoming screenings, and book a ticket. They've certainly got one or two 55 showings of The Muppet Christmas Carol coming up.
