Key facts
- The Prince Charles cinema has signed a new 25-year lease.
- The lease renewal ends 21 months of uncertainty for the venue.
- The cinema was designated an asset of community value in May 2025.
- Landlords plan to develop a hotel on the building's upper floors.
The Prince Charles repertory cinema in London's Leicester Square has secured its future by signing a new 25-year lease with its landlords, Zedwell LSQ Ltd. The agreement ends 21 months of uncertainty for the celebrated venue, which faced potential closure due to lease renewal disputes. The new lease includes no break clause, ensuring the cinema's operation for years to come. In January 2025, the cinema launched a petition after its landlord demanded a break clause, which would have allowed Zedwell to give the cinema six months' notice if it had other plans for the site. Criterion Capital, owner of Zedwell LSQ Ltd, denied attempting to intimidate the cinema. The news of the potential closure generated significant support from film fans and industry figures, including actors and directors. In May 2025, the Prince Charles was designated an asset of community value by Westminster City Council. Ben Freedman, owner of the Prince Charles, stated the security allows for investment in the cinema's future. Vaqas Farooq, CEO of Criterion Capital, confirmed terms were agreed upon, allowing the cinema's future and a hotel development on upper floors. Lease issues are also affecting another independent cinema, the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford.