Charles Cinema in London Secures Future with New Long-Term Lease

The Prince Charles Cinema (PCC) in London's West End has signed a new long-term lease with its landlord, securing the future of the beloved venue and ending the nearly two-year public campaign to save the cinema. The cinema's management has signed a new 25-year lease with the owner, Zedwell LSQ Ltd. The lease includes a break-free clause. […]

The Prince Charles Cinema (PCC) in London's West End has signed a new long-term lease with its landlord, securing the future of the popular venue and ending a nearly two-year public campaign to save the cinema.

The cinema's management team has signed a new 25-year lease with owner Zedwell LSQ Ltd. This lease includes a no break clause. This means that both the landlord and tenant (PCC) are locked in for the duration of the tenancy. The inclusion of the clause is a victory for PCC management, which had expressed concerns that Zedwell may have ambitions to close the cinema and redevelop the site to open a more profitable business. Related news Sky-ITV news: UK culture minister 'approved to intervene' in over $2.1 billion Russell legal merger Brand Russell trial: Woman claims she was raped by star in hotel room after she posed for half-naked photos

"After 21 months of uncertainty, we are delighted to have secured the future of the cinema and could not have done it without the support, commitment and belief of so many people," PCC management said in a statement. Watch on Deadline

To each of the 168,645 people (and counting) who signed the petition and made sure we were never outnumbered. To the Soho community, who recommended that Westminster Council officially designate us as an Asset of Community Value, and the council who did this... we are so grateful to each and every one of you.

The campaign to save the PCC began in early 2025, when the cinema's management issued a public display statement that the cinema was under "serious threat" of closure. The cinema's long-term lease contract with Zdol had expired in September 2025. Under UK law, the cinema management team was legally entitled to a new lease. They applied for a new lease of at least 15 years at the current market rent and with the same terms as their current lease.

Zdol responded by asking for a redevelopment break clause to be included in the new lease giving them the right to terminate the lease with 6 months notice at any time the new lease began.

PCC is the only independent cinema in the West End. This place is popular among hipsters and young movie fans. It is best known for its all-nighter events and recurring seasons, which have often featured filmmakers such as Paul Thomas Anderson and Stanley Kubrick.

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