An iconic Leicester Square cinema that is loved by Quentin Tarantino is confronted with closure after 'intimidation' by his landlord.
The legendary house of the Cult Cinema of the capital De Prins Charles has launched a petition to say that it is under 'serious threat'.
The staff is 'outside disappointed' in the lessor of the Zedwell LSQ cinema and criterion capital of mother companies – ownership of billionaire developer AZIZ.
It said that it is an attempt to 'bully' them out of the building as soon as their lease ends in September 2025.
They say that the owners 'demanded' a break clause in a new lease that the cinema would give for six months to find another place to go if the owners receive a building permit to redevelop it.
On the website, the staff said that they interpret this as a 'clear intention' of the owners who want to redevelop it. The petition to save the cinema has 191 of 200 signatures at the time of writing – in just one day.
The staff said that the owners 'also require rent from far above the market rates, at a level that no cinema owner would reasonably consider'.
The cinema is loved by Paul Thomas Anderson and Quentin Tarantino, who described it as 'Mecca for lovers of quality films'.
The tent in Prince Charles Cinema in West End shows a tribute to David Lynch when the filmmaker died on January 15 last year
A young man outside the Prince Charles Cinema on Leicester Square, where the controversial 'X' rated film, 'Last Tango in Paris' was shown in February 1973
The Prince Charles Cinema on Leicester Square with a cheerful Christmas board in 2019
The iconic Leicester Square Cinema is loved by Quentin Tarantino (shown during the 2024 Tribeca Festival in New York)
John Waters, the writer and director of Hairspray, called it “the most corrupt and beautiful cinema in London.”
Last year the Prince Charles showed 858 different films that sold more than 250,000 tickets.
It said: “At a time when cinemas keep closing all over the world, we are happy to take the trend with a variety of films that is unparalleled somewhere else.”
“We believe that these tactics amount to an attempt from criterion capital and its subsidiaries to use their important financial resources to intimidate us, regardless of our legal rights,” is the website.
'We will set up legal proceedings to dispute their valuation of the lease in the strongest possible conditions.
“We are convinced that we can extend it against market rate, but we urge them to come to the table and settle for reasonable conditions without a long -term legal process being needed.”
The Prince Charles Cinema was opened in 1962 as a live theater before he became a cinema in the mid -sixties.
Last year it concluded a private display of the last screenwriter – who was completely written with the help of Chatgpt – after a public recoil.
But over the years it has been praised by various celebrities and people in the film business.
Saltburn director Emerald Fennell likes to go to the Leicester Square Cinema.
The staff is 'more disappointed' in the landlord of the Zedwell LSQ cinema and Criterion Capital Criterion – ownership of billionaire developer AZIZ (depicted 2017)
People walk past a selection framework with heat fires in the Prince Charles Cinema in Central London in 2022
During Covid, the cinema showed a series of signs while the country enters into different lockdowns. Shown in 2020
A sign in the Prince Charles Cinema Reading 'Well Be Back' during the first Saturday evening in London after the announcement of the Government Lock in 2020
The sign was 'Mamma Mia, here we go again' during the third National Lockdown in England to curb the spread of Coronavirus
Pete Doherty worked there in 1999 and wrote in his diary that he was 'pretty charmed by the place' despite 'the staff that was a bit aloof'.
Gary Lineker showed up for the premiere of 'Start of Start' in 2016. And director Paul Thomas Anderson would visit Phantom Thread in 2017.
The cinema shows a quote from the director on the website, who said: 'The Prince Charles has a place in my heart. It is the people, the programming, accessibility, the feeling, texture … you can't go wrong.
'You also know that you can close your eyes on a certain day, press your finger at the program and you will touch something great. It is as if you tun up on your favorite radio station. '
It is said that Tarantino has 'loved' coffee from the cinema, said in an interview on a DVD -Extra: 'The day Kill Bill plays in the Prinsen Charles will be the day that really comes home'.
Other celebrities spotted there are Peter Dinklage, Woody Harrelson, Margot Robbie, Uma Thurman and Kevin Smith. Andrew Garfield also brought the Staftaart.
Ben Freedman, director of the Prince Charles Cinema, said: 'Among us stewardship, the cinema has become known for his unique range of programming and a home for everyone who likes to experience films in the best possible way. With other people, in the dark, in the cinema.
People stand in line around the bend for the first show of Caligula in the cinema in 1980
The Prince Charles Cinema on Leicester Square during his construction in December 1962
A sign of the Prince Charles Cinema next to some hanging Chinese lanterns
'The core of our success is an experienced team that is constantly aimed at running an independent cinema that can thrive in a very difficult market in the future. This means that we do not stand still and have a list of location improvements once we have obtained the security of a lease extension.
'These plans would protect and improve the characteristics and capacity of the building to present the widest variety of films all over the world, while retaining the two screens and seat capacity of 404, which means that the cinema will remain open to the community.
'By refusing, however, to come to the table and negotiate a new lease agreement for the location and demanding a redevelopment clause, the landlord has made it clear that they are not interested in seeing the Prince Charles Cinema.
“Simple terms, if the landlord decides to redevelop the site, the Prince Charles Cinema will be lost forever.”
A spokesperson for Criterion Capital said: “Bubble Chamber Limited has started lease renewal procedures at the Prince Charles Cinema and the landlord has responded in accordance with Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.”
Criterion is the largest landowner in the Piccadilly Circus – Leicester Square Corridor, which has more than 50 buildings and operates in iconic London locations, including Mayfair, St. James's, Park Lane and Knightsbridge.
It specializes in converting outdated buildings into affordable residential apartments and lifestyle hotels.
