The Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square secures its future for 25 years

Film lovers across London had reason to celebrate this month. On 15 October 2026, the Prince Charles Cinema, the much loved independent picture house off Leicester Square, announced that it had signed a new 25 year lease with no break clause, securing its future for at least another quarter of a century.

The cinema said the deal would ensure its "projectors will keep rolling for years to come". It means audiences can look forward to many more all nighters, 35mm screenings, quizzes and cult favourites.

The news followed a remarkable show of public support. When the cinema's future became uncertain in early 2025, staff launched the Save the PCC campaign, and more than 168,000 people signed a petition backing it. Following a recommendation from the Soho Society, Westminster City Council designated the building an Asset of Community Value in May 2025.

The landlord welcomed the new agreement. Vaq Farooq, chief executive of Criterion Capital, said the cinema "is the embodiment of that spirit" of the West End's culture and independent businesses.

The Prince Charles has a colourful history. Built in 1961 and 1962, it opened on 26 December 1962 as a theatre named after the then Prince Charles. Later it showed European arthouse films and horror, hosting the world premiere of Hellraiser in 1987. Robins Cinemas took it over in 1991, and it became largely a repertory cinema.

Today it is described as the only independent cinema in the City of Westminster. It typically shows more than 50 different films a week, mixing cult, arthouse and classic titles with recent releases. Its sing-along screenings of The Sound of Music are famous, as are its showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Room.

The downstairs screen has 300 velvet seats, and upstairs there are 104 high back leather seats in a screen created from a former balcony in 2008. Time Out ranks it number eight in its list of the 100 greatest cinemas in the world.

The Prince Charles Cinema is on Leicester Place, just off Leicester Square. For listings, marathons and membership, visit princecharlescinema.com.