The Curzon Mayfair – from which our company took its name in 1934 – has been our flagship cinema for 90 years. It’s hosted countless premieres, showcased the best in art house and independent cinema, and welcomed generations of film lovers through its doors. With industry-leading growth of 25% and more film lovers visiting Curzon cinemas this quarter alone, any suggestion that the cinema is in decline simply doesn’t hold up.
Since the building changed hands in 2016, we’ve been fighting for its future. That same year, it took the intervention of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to stop soundproofing measures that would have damaged the listed features of the building, all for the benefit of the luxury flats built above.
For more than eight years, we’ve tried to invest in and restore Curzon Mayfair. We worked with Benedetti Architects on designs that would create an accessible, high-quality cinema experience unlike anything else in London. We’ve submitted multiple proposals for refurbishment, and we even offered to buy the building at market value. Every single time, we were blocked.
We wanted to preserve Curzon Mayfair as a functioning cinema. Instead, we believe something completely different is on the table – a private members’ club that shuts the door on the public and erases one of London’s most loved cultural venues.
What’s been extraordinary is the public response. More than 20,000 people have signed the petition to save the cinema. Hundreds have sent objections to Westminster council. People from across the film industry, including Steven Spielberg, have spoken out. The message couldn’t be clearer: the plan to fundamentally alter the cinema is not wanted.
And yet, we’ve come to the painful conclusion that we have no choice but to withdraw our legal challenge. The risk of being forced to pay the landlord’s vast legal costs, should the case not go our way, is simply too great.
We truly did everything we could to stay. Our hope was to be there for another 90 years, continuing the legacy we’ve built. We made offer after offer in good faith, but each one was met with a flat refusal.
After operating the Curzon Mayfair for 91 years, we know the business inside out and we believe that spending £15 million on a refurbishment only works if you either charge extortionate ticket prices or turn it into an exclusive club for the ultra-wealthy. But this is simply not what we believe in.
So, we’re forced to step away. It’s not the ending we wanted, but we’re already looking ahead. We’re working on plans for a new flagship venue elsewhere in London - one that honours the spirit of Curzon Mayfair and builds on everything we’ve learned.
I want to say thank you. To everyone who signed the petition. To everyone who wrote in, or spoke out, or simply kept coming to the cinema. And to the generations of film lovers who made Curzon Mayfair what it was, we are very grateful. Here’s to the next chapter.
Philip Knatchbull is CEO of Curzon Cinemas
