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To: Criterion Capital Ltd

Save The Prince Charles Cinema


Ensure the Prince Charles Cinema can exist for years to come. We are calling on Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their parent company Criterion Capital to immediately withdraw the demand of a break clause in our new lease and come to the table to negotiate on reasonable terms without the need for a protracted legal process.

Why is this important?

The future of the iconic Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End is under serious threat!

We are beyond disappointed that our landlords, Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital, have demanded the inclusion of a break clause in our new lease. This could leave us homeless with only 6 months’ notice should they receive planning permission to redevelop the cinema.

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.  This would have repercussions way beyond the building itself.

The Prince Charles Cinema was opened in 1962 as a live theatre before becoming a cinema in the mid-sixties.  Under our stewardship the cinema, which receives no public subsidy,  has become known for its unique range of programming spanning the history of cinema. At a time when cinemas continue to close throughout the world, we are happy to buck the trend with our thriving and fiercely independent offer.

We feel that this demand amounts to a clear attempt by Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital to use their significant financial resources to disregard our legal entitlement to a new lease, and bully us out of the building once the existing one ends in Sept 2025. 

We can’t let that happen.
 
‘The Prince Charles has a place in my heart. It’s the people, the programming, the accessibility, feeling, texture... you cannot go wrong. You also know that on any given day, you can close your eyes, press your finger to the programme, and you’ll hit something great. It’s like tuning into your favourite radio station.’ - Paul Thomas Anderson 

#SaveThePCC
 

How it will be delivered

The Petition will be e-mailed to Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital as well as to the Mayor of London and The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP Sec of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Leicester Pl, London WC2H 7BY, UK

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Links

Campaign Facebook Page Campaign Website

Updates

2025-09-24 13:27:35 +0100

Dear PCC Squad,

Apologies for the four-month gap since my last update. There hasn't been much new to share. The lease on the venue will expire in the coming days, but don’t worry.
Key points to note:
• On 2nd Sept, Westminster Council approved plans for the office building above the Cinema to be converted into a Capsule Hostel by our Landlord. The crucial aspect of this approval was the Council's clear statement that the construction should not affect the cinema’s trade in any way.
• The Cinema will continue as usual until a new lease is agreed upon—either through negotiations between Criterion Capital and The Prince Charles Cinema or by court decision. Rest assured, we have spent the past year assembling a strong case with many skilled professionals, including one of London's leading property Barristers.
• We have a legal right to remain, we are simply seeking to continue under the same terms as our current lease at the new market rent.

Thank you all.
Team PCC

2025-05-09 14:51:25 +0100

Prince Charles Cinema designated as an Asset of Community Value
We are excited to tell everyone that Westminster Council decided on May 1st that the Prince Charles Cinema would be included in the list of Assets of Community Value maintained by the Council under section 87 of the Localism Act 2011.

This will make it only the 6th asset currently with this designation. In their announcement letter, the Council emphasises that “the Prince Charles is distinguished from other local cinemas by means of its independent ethos, unparalleled programming and a close relationship with the local community”
We believe that any truly great venue is built on the shoulders of those who work within & 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 everyone of you who took a moment to support our cause.

2025-02-05 14:02:45 +0000

150,000 signatures reached

2025-02-03 12:12:34 +0000

Thank you for all that have advised we should apply to be designated an Asset of Community Value. Please be aware this was applied for prior to the petition going live and we await a positive response on this. Great minds eh! ;-)

2025-01-29 08:33:10 +0000

100,000 signatures reached

2025-01-28 15:24:41 +0000

50,000 signatures reached

2025-01-28 12:08:38 +0000

20,000 signatures reached

2025-01-28 11:19:03 +0000

10,000 signatures reached

2025-01-28 10:45:49 +0000

5,000 signatures reached

2025-01-28 09:54:43 +0000

1,000 signatures reached

2025-01-28 09:33:58 +0000

500 signatures reached

2025-01-27 14:20:38 +0000

100 signatures reached

2025-01-26 20:35:37 +0000

50 signatures reached

2025-01-26 19:56:57 +0000

25 signatures reached

2025-01-26 19:48:42 +0000

10 signatures reached