London’s repertory cinemas are becoming increasingly popular, especially with young people, during a period of general decline for the wider industry.
Repertory cinemas such as the BFI Southbank, the Prince Charles Cinema and the Garden Cinema show hundreds of classic and indie films every year, focusing less on new releases and more on classic movies with enduring appeal.
Their popularity comes as the United Kingdom has witnessed a general decline in regional and mainstream cinemas, and a lack of recovery following the financial hit served by closures during the Covid pandemic.
The BFI Southbank, opened at the Festival of Britain in 1951, is Britain’s largest and most popular repertory cinema.
The site, situated beneath Waterloo Bridge, comprises four cinema theatres, as well as a library, shop, café, restaurant and exhibition space.
Classics such as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia are shown on the large NF1 screen, while smaller screens present recent releases of independent films that have won awards at ceremonies such as the Cannes and Venice film festivals.
The nearby BFI Imax boasts the largest cinema screen in the UK, at 20 metres high and 25 metres wide.
Charlie Marriner, 27, visiting BFI Southbank to watch Andrei Tarkovsky’s Nostalghia, said: “I do go to mainstream cinemas quite a lot – but there are just so many films that come out and, frankly, I just don’t want to see them.
“I don’t see why I should have more cause to watch a film that came out yesterday, rather than a film that came out in the 80s like [Nostalghia] but which is really, really good.
“Everyone says it – but it’s true – that Hollywood is starved of creativity. I don’t want to see another sequel or a remake. I mean, come on, I don’t want to watch Toy Story 5.”
In 2023, both Empire Cinemas and Cineworld went into administration and local cinemas have relied recently on blockbusters such as Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey or The Devil Wears Prada 2 to attract audiences.
For Lottie James, 25, the secret of repertory cinemas’ success lies in their retro appeal.
“I suppose they offer something authentic that isn’t there in the more commercial theatres,” she said.
“It’s part of a nostalgia for what our generation never experienced – like 35mm cameras and vinyl and vintage fashion, I guess.”
The Prince Charles Theatre in Soho was opened in 1962, becoming a repertory cinema in 1991.
It offers a programme of cult, arthouse, and classic films alongside recent movie releases, and typically shows more than fifty different films a week on two screens.
However, it has recently faced difficulties, as its landlord has threatened to raise its rent and introduce a new clause which, if triggered, could leave the cinema homeless with six months’ notice.
A large campaign, Save the PCC, was launched to save the cinema, attracting support from big names of film such as Paul Thomas Anderson.
This led to Westminster Council designating the Prince Charles as an Asset of Community Value in 2025, though it is yet to secure a long-term lease.
In their announcement letter the Council said: “The Prince Charles is distinguished from other local cinemas by means of its independent ethos, unparalleled programming and a close relationship with the local community.”
Repertory cinemas continue to emerge and to thrive, despite recent difficulties for the industry as a whole.
The Garden Cinema, an independent, art deco-style movie theatre in Covent Garden, opened four years ago and has enjoyed considerable success.
It features three small screens, curated film seasons, Q&A sessions, and two onsite bars with a 1930s-era décor which appeals to those desiring a more old-fashioned cinema experience.
Speaking to the Londoners by phone, Charlie Newsome, a cinema campaigner, said: “The fact is that nobody has to go to these hideous out-of-town sheds anymore, and we are seeing more and more of them close every year.
“Streaming has meant that the cinema is no longer a necessity – what people want now is a real and palpable experience.”
“Since you no longer have to go to a cinema to watch a film, you only choose to go to those theatres which offer the best visitor experience and only to see those films which you think deserve a special viewing.”
More information about repertory cinemas in London can be found here.
Featured Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
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