Prince Charles Cinema signs 25-year lease with no break clause after landlord dispute
London's Prince Charles Cinema announced on 15 October 2026 that it has signed a 25-year lease with no break clause, ending about 21 months of uncertainty over its future in a dispute with its landlord.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The Prince Charles Cinema, an independent cinema off Leicester Square in London's West End, announced on Thursday 15 October 2026 that it had signed a new 25-year lease with no break clause. Evening StandardN “we have signed a new 25-year lease with no break clause, ensuring our projectors will keep rolling for years to come.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ MetroLC “announced it had signed a new lease without the controversial break clause.” Read at Metro ↗ Centre · 2In a statement published on X, management said the cinema had endured "21 months of uncertainty" and thanked supporters, including the 168,645 people (and counting) who signed a petition, the Soho Society, which recommended that Westminster Council designate the cinema an Asset of Community Value, and the Council, which did so. Evening StandardN “To every one of the 168,645 people (and counting) who signed the petition and ensured we never felt outnumbered,”” Read at Evening Standard ↗ DeadlineN “To the Soho Society, who recommended that Westminster Council officially designate us an Asset of Community Value, and the Council, who did so” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Deadline explains that the dispute began in early 2025, when the cinema said it was under "serious threat" of closure as its long-standing lease was due to expire in September 2025. DeadlineN “The cinema’s long-standing lease with Zedwell had been set to expire in September 2025.” Read at Deadline ↗
Centre · 1Under UK law the cinema was entitled to a new lease, and it applied for at least 15 years at the going market rent on similar terms. According to Deadline, the landlord responded by asking for a redevelopment break clause letting it end the lease on six months' notice. DeadlineN “Zedwell responded by asking to include a redevelopment break clause in the new lease that would entitle them to terminate the lease at 6 months’ notice” Read at Deadline ↗ Left · 1Metro describes the clause as one that would have required the cinema to leave on six months' notice if the site secured planning permission for redevelopment. MetroLC “It would have required the cinema to move out with six months’ notice if the site had secured planning permission for redevelopment.” Read at Metro ↗ Centre · 2The Evening Standard names the landlord as Criterion Capital, which it says is ultimately controlled by developer Asif Aziz, while Deadline names it as Zedwell LSQ Ltd. Evening StandardN “Criterion Capital and its subsidiaries own and manage property in central London” Read at Evening Standard ↗ DeadlineN “new 25-year lease with landlord Zedwell LSQ Ltd.” Read at Deadline ↗
Mixed · 2The cinema had accused the landlord of trying to "bully" or intimidate it out of the building and of demanding unreasonable rent; a Criterion spokesperson had previously denied any intimidation and said it valued the cinema. Evening StandardN “A spokesperson for Criterion had previously denied any intimidation, saying it valued the cinema and would work with it to reach agreement on the lease.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ MetroLC “The independent venue previously accused its landlord of ‘intimidating’ them” Read at Metro ↗ Centre · 1Deadline says the no-break clause binds both landlord and tenant for the whole term and is a win for management, which feared the landlord might want to close the cinema and redevelop the site. DeadlineN “This means both the landlord and tenant (The PCC) are locked in for the duration of the lease.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1The campaign drew backing from film figures including Quentin Tarantino, Danny Boyle, Christopher Nolan and Paul Mescal, according to the Standard. The cinema sells around 250,000 tickets a year and is known for all-nighters, sing-alongs and repertory programming. Evening StandardN “Other famous backers include The Odyssey director Christopher Nolan and Irish actor Paul Mescal.”“It sells around 250,000 tickets a year.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Left · 1Metro reports that the battle "appears to be over for now", and quotes fans on social media welcoming the news. MetroLC “The battle appears to be over for now after Prince Charles Cinema announced it had signed a new lease” Read at Metro ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Metro presents a feel-good victory for a beloved venue, with fan reactions and a short history, and says the battle "appears to be over for now".
- Emphasis
- Fan reactions, the cinema's cult following and the break clause as controversial.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not name the landlord or give the lease background that Deadline and the Standard give.
- Charged language
- “iconic”“controversial break clause”“on the brink of closure”
- For example
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“The iconic Prince Charles Cinema has been saved from risk of closure after almost two years of uncertainty.” — Metro
Centre3 outlets
- Framing
- The Standard celebrates the cinema as "saved" and recounts the dispute and star backing. Deadline gives a more businesslike account of the lease terms and what the no-break clause means.
- Emphasis
- The Standard stresses celebrity support, the landlord's earlier denial and the owner's identity. Deadline stresses the legal background and the clause's effect.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The Standard gives little detail on the legal mechanism. Deadline does not mention the landlord's denial of intimidation.
- Charged language
- “saved!”“much-loved”“bully”
- For example
-
“The cinema had previously accused landlord Criterion Capital of attempting to “bully” it out of the building” — Evening Standard
“Inclusion of the clause is a win for The PCC management” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The cinema signed a 25-year lease with no break clause, announced 15 October 2026.
- Management described 21 months of uncertainty.
- The statement cited 168,645 petition signatures and thanked the Soho Society and Westminster Council.
Where accounts differ
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Who the landlord is
- Left
- Metro refers only to "its landlord".
- Centre
- The Evening Standard names Criterion Capital; Deadline names Zedwell LSQ Ltd.
-
The Prince Charles Cinema has signed a new 25-year lease with no break clause.
Supported- Supports 3
- Metro, Deadline, Evening Standard
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The uncertainty over the cinema's lease lasted about 21 months.
Reported- Reports 3
- Metro, Deadline, Evening Standard
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168,645 people had signed the petition supporting the cinema.
Reported- Reports 3
- Metro, Deadline, Evening Standard
Prince Charles Cinema organisation
Management says the lease secures the cinema's future, credits public, community and industry support, and promises to continue for at least another 25 years.
“as we continue on for at least another 25 years, we promise to never forget that.” — Evening Standard
Left1 article
-
MetroLC ·
London’s Prince Charles Cinema wins battle to stay open in Soho
Sympathetic Upbeat victory story with fan reactions and cinema history.
Centre3 articles
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Prince Charles Cinema saved! Much-loved venue says future secure after landlord legal battle
Celebratory Declares the cinema "saved" and recounts the landlord row and celebrity backing.
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London’s Prince Charles Cinema Secures Future With New Long-Term Lease
Neutral Trade-press explanation of the lease terms and legal background, treating the clause as a win for management.
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Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 15 Oct 11:35 First Evening StandardN Prince Charles Cinema saved! Much-loved venue says future secure after landlord legal battle
- 15 Oct 13:34 +1h 58m DeadlineN London’s Prince Charles Cinema Secures Future With New Long-Term Lease
- 15 Oct 13:36 +2h 1m MetroLC London’s Prince Charles Cinema wins battle to stay open in Soho
- 15 Oct 14:26 +2h 51m BBC NewsN Cult Leicester Square cinema saved from potential closure
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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