London’s Prince Charles Cinema said on Tuesday that it is “under serious threat” of closing after a disagreement with its landlord over a new lease.
The cinema posted a petition on its social media accounts calling for help saving the iconic theater, which has been praised by the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson. In the first hour, the petition already has over 10,000 signatures.
“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,” the petition reads. “This could leave us homeless with only 6 months’ notice should they receive planning permission to redevelop the cinema.”
They continued: “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.”
According to the Telegraph, the Prince Charles is the last independent cinema operating in London’s West End. It’s known for its unique programming, including all-night movie marathons dedicated to specific directors and franchises and 70mm screenings of classic and foreign films.
“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,” the petition states.
Criterion Capital did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment, but a spokesperson told the Telegraph: “Bubble Chamber Limited has initiated lease renewal proceedings on Prince Charles Cinema and the landlord has responded in accordance with Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.”