Скачать или смотреть Prince Charles Cinema: iconic West End cinema fears it could be forced to close amid lease battle

An iconic West End cinema has said its future is in jeopardy amid fears its landlord is planning to redevelop the site.

The Prince Charles Cinema, one of the few independent cinemas in central London, has accused its landlord of “intimidation” over a proposed clause in its lease which would require it to leave within six months if the site were to be redeveloped.

The cinema accused Criterion Capital of attempting to “bully” it out of the building off Leicester Square when its current lease ends in September, and demanding rent “at a level which no cinema proprietor would consider reasonable.”

“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,” the cinema said.

“This would have repercussions way beyond the building itself.”

It added: “We believe that these tactics amount to an attempt by Criterion Capital and its subsidiaries to use their significant financial resources to intimidate us.”

A spokesperson for Criterion categorically denied intimidation, saying it valued the cinema and would work with it to reach agreement on the lease.

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