Prince Charles Cinema secures its future with a 25-year lease

London’s Prince Charles Cinema has signed a 25-year lease with no break clause, giving the independent venue a more secure future after 21 months of uncertainty.

The dispute centred on a proposed clause that could have allowed the landlord to give the cinema six months’ notice to leave for redevelopment. Both sides now confirm that they have reached an agreement.

In its announcement, the cinema thanked 168,645 petition signatories, its staff and audiences. It also credited the Soho Society, which recommended that Westminster Council recognise the building as an asset of community value; the council granted that status last year.

Public backing formed part of the campaign, but the lasting protection comes from the agreed lease. The landlord still plans a hotel on the building’s upper floors, so the agreement does not mean the site will remain unchanged.

Owner Ben Freedman says the security gives the cinema confidence to invest in its future. For filmgoers, it means a much-loved place to watch together can keep planning its next programme.

Sources

• The Guardian — Prince Charles Cinema’s lease renewal
• Prince Charles Cinema — 15 October campaign update