Cinema Chain Prince Charles Contemplates Opening Second Location in London
The iconic Prince Charles Cinema in London, known for its cult repertory screenings, is considering expanding its horizons. According to Paul Vickery, the head of programming, this could mark the beginning of several new outposts for the exhibitor.
However, the future of the original Leicester Square site remains uncertain as negotiations with Zedwell LSQ Ltd, owned by Criterion Capital, are ongoing. The Prince Charles Cinema has been under the management of Ben Freedman of Robins Cinemas since 1990, and its future development is yet to be secured with a long-term lease.
In May, Westminster Council decided to include the Prince Charles Cinema in its list of Assets of Community Value. If a building is listed as such, its owner must notify the council if it is put up for sale. However, as of August 2025, no recent or specific search results confirm the current status of the Prince Charles Cinema’s expansion plans or the Stratford Picturehouse takeover.
The Edinburgh Filmhouse, under the ownership of Scottish property company Caledonian Heritable, reopened this summer and is now run by former Filmhouse staff. Interestingly, the Prince Charles Cinema previously attempted to expand by putting in a bid to take over the Edinburgh Filmhouse in 2022, which was rejected.
In a significant move, negotiations are ongoing for the Prince Charles Cinema to take over and reopen the Stratford Picturehouse in east London. However, without direct data from official announcements, news articles, or authoritative entertainment industry sources, the status of any Prince Charles Cinema expansion or Stratford Picturehouse takeover remains unconfirmed.
It's worth noting that the expansion of the Prince Charles Cinema is not backed by any additional investment, beyond its current business model. Moreover, the Prince Charles Cinema is not required to sell its property to a community group, and the owner is not obligated to continue any existing lease.
An online petition protesting against a break clause in the landlord's latest contract for the Prince Charles Cinema has garnered 165,293 signatures, reflecting the cinema's significance to its community.
For those seeking updated or detailed information on this topic, checking dedicated cinema industry news sources, official cinema websites, or trusted entertainment news outlets might be necessary. The Prince Charles Cinema, which opened in 1962, continues to be a cherished part of London's cultural landscape, and its future developments will undoubtedly be watched with keen interest by its dedicated fanbase.
