Prince Charles Cinema — Local services in London

Hello and welcome!

So who are they exactly?

They are The Prince Charles Cinema, the last of the independents still operating in London’s cine-famous ‘West End’. The site itself sprang to life as a Theatre back in 1962 before making the rather interesting shift to becoming a film-house of ill repute, which just so happened to host the UK’s longest theatrical runs of both Emmanuelle & Caligula! Then in 1991, the early seeds of The Prince Charles Cinema were planted and from there this mighty little cine-behemoth began to grow. They now find themselves as one of the most popular Independent Cinema’s in the UK (if not THE WORLD!).

So what kind of films do they screen? To the uninitiated you may think they only allow the Back To The Future and Indiana Jones movies to reach there screen, but that’s merely the tip of the cinematic iceberg. In the past they have seen seasons dedicated to Paul Thomas Anderson run in the same month as an all-nighter dedicated to the Jurassic Park series (yes, even the bad ones). They have had Jacques Rivette & Ingmar Bergman ‘sampler’ seasons run alongside those for 007 and Studio Ghibli. Epic 70mm presentaions of 2001 : A SPACE ODYSSEY in one screen whilst people Aca-Alonged to Pitch Perfect in the other. To put it plainly; they screen everything!

From cinema’s origins through to the present day, from all corners of the globe, and presented from a variety of formats including; 35mm, 70mm and Digital [which includes Digital Cinema Package [or DCP], BluRay, DVD, DVCAM and DigiBeta.].* If it’s a film that they believe their audience wants or would enjoy seeing on the big-screen, they will run it. Don’t see your favourite film in their listings? Tell them! But being the only independent venue in cinema’s busiest square-mile immediately makes you the underdog of the industry, which is why at a glance their programme tends to be a little different to what you might expect to see in the West End. They also have Ushers in our screens, something you don’t expect to see in cinemas in the West End anymore… but i digress.

Back to explaining the programme.

THE NEW RELEASE Our NEW RELEASE programme has always filled a gap in London’s film-going fence, picking up films just off-release thus extending their theatrical lives and giving audiences a much-appreciated ‘second chance’ to see them. We have anything from 2 to 12 different New Release titles playing here over the week, so it’s a good idea to always keep an eye on their programme as things can change here pretty quickly. THE REPERTORY & EVENT The Repertory side of our programme is the one for which we have become most famous. Monday to Thursday they dedicate a slot in our evening schedule to bring you a different Repertory film, usually presented as part of an over-riding season, cobbled together with linking themes such as Director, Actor, Genre, Year etc, and where possible from 35mm too!

When they venture into the weekend things tend to become a little more varied with Double Features, 70mm presentations, animated selections, interactive events, such as our World Famous SING-A-LONG-A presentations, all-night movie marathons and a whole lot more. When you pool all of the above together, you end up with The Prince Charles Cinema; a place dedicated to representing cinema’s every corner whilst placing utmost importance on the one thing which keeps us going – YOU! For the fellow format junkies out there, if you’re ever after an extra note or two about the condition of a specific 35mm print or any info about a digital restoration, do not hesitate to drop us an email via the contact address at the bottom of the homepage on...

Based on a visit 1st January 2023 to see a 70mm film downstairs. Personally I love this cinema. I have membership and have been around 5 times now. I always enjoy visiting. The location is great, right in the heart of Leicester Square but just out the way so it is a bit quieter than the other cinemas around. It can get quite busy outside and just before the start of a film though to be aware of. It is usually well organised though so that's nothing much to worry about. Staff always seem friendly and helpful. Prices - for snacks etc the prices are high. Quite expensive but in comparison to all the other cinemas in Leicester Square, they aren't any higher than them. Quality of picture - downstairs I have seen digital, 35mm and 70mm. All look as I'd expected but the 70mm is by far my favourite. I watched 2001: Space Odyssey and for a film that was released 55 years ago, it looked amazing! Quality of sound - I am quite into big loud spectacular cinema and always look forward to my visits to Imax and Dolby cinemas. This however does not compete and form my experience seems to lack the surround sound you'd get from most premium cinemas. Saying that the majority of movies I have seen I did not find a problem with the sound and the most recent film I watched there sounded really nice. So maybe depending on the film and the source. Seating - seating is a funny one because I personally find the downstairs seating quite uncomfortable for long periods of time. They are nice looking but maybe I'm just used to the "Luxe" seating nowadays. Also the viewing angles are quite strict and the middle of the seating area seems as though it dips and the middle isn't the prime location for seating if anyone is sitting infront of you. And isn't short. Upstairs - I have not been yet. Toilets - mostly clean. When the cinema becomes really busy you can get the toilet get a little abused but most times I have been they were clean and well looked after. Bar - to my knowledge there is a bar type kiosk on the ground flood and downstairs. Both sell interesting selection of alcohol if that is what you are into, ales, beers, wine etc that I rarely see in your standard places. They also sell a caffeine based drink that's made out of mate tea, it's fizzy and tastes a bit like a cigarette. Iike this in small doses. Also a selection of sweets, popcorn, soft drinks etc. Extras - So, as this cinema is an independent cinema, which seems not to be connected to any chain corporation, they provide viewings of old movies, b movies, foreign movies and they don't tend to play out the Blockbusters the other cinemas are playing. They have some original posters (not for the taking but used by the cinema) which is a really nice touch and just the aesthetics of the place is very nostalgic and feels like you have been warped back in time. There is also a large chalk board full of requests by anyone for movies to be shown there. And it seems they are taken on the whole quite seriously and not just there for reasons.

On the whole, I really like this place and think they do a fantastic job. I reckon 8/10, if they somehow fix the seating issue and upgrade the sound slightly, reconsider the pricing of snacks, it would be a 10/10. Still they have to make enough money to stay alive and cutting prices and rebuilding the floor may not be viable at the moment, so I say give this place a few visits, see some old films and if you can 70mm ones (if they have some at the time) and just enjoy.

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PROS: the best programmed cinema in the U.K., possibly the world. There is literally a film I want to see on the bigger screen every single day, often the only place that has ever shown them

Shows films I love and know, and films I don’t yet know but want to if they have decided to show them.

Has huge name directors and other creatives doing Q&As or introductions, often the only place in the uk, possibly the world they would do this.

Great location, central London, close to a tube station (Leicester Square), right in the heart of cinema land

Does all night movie marathons, mystery showings, directors seasons etc, again, the programming cannot be faulted.

CONS: both the two screens have almost unbearably uncomfortable seating. The lower screen seats are so uncomfortable I refrain from Booking anything longer than 90 mins because after fifty minutes I am sore and distracted from the film and have to take multiple breaks, it truly ruins the experience. The short armrests are a beacon to bad design.

The upstairs screen is better, ie more comfortable but a smaller screen, and the seating is so wide it’s distracting if you’re sat outside the edge of the screen. Also the space between rows is laughably small, it must have been designed by a bigger homunculus.

Their policy of refusing entry more than fifteen minutes is something they love to enforce. Arrived 17 mins after start of a film, the person loved telling me that we couldn’t enter, huge smile on their face when telling me the 32 spent on two tickets means nothing, nor does the reason we were late, we agreed. Fair enough, I guess, but it really affects my desire to go back here, as it can cause such anxiety unless if have lots of time to make sure I’m local, cos London tubes can all of a sudden add ten mins to a journey, now your plans are ruined.

Arrived at 14 mins into a showing of a concert film (Stop Making Sense) and the extremely aggy security guard spoke to me like I was trying to sneak into a nightclub, staring at me like he wanted to punch me cos I said I’m going downstairs to watch the film, as it’s only fourteen mins into the film. Very unnecessary attitude considering how little need there is for a security guard there, it’s not a prison where the guard needs to be on edge, he literally stands outside acting tough and staring down a bunch of middle class cinemagoers and passerbys

Very unfriendly staff in general, one or two have been pleasant over the hundred or more visits I’ve made, but most have a strange snooty silent attitude as if you’ve intruded in there private space.

Both screens are fairly old and low quality, audio included.

Ninny controlling staff have told people (not me) to ‘stop rustling your snacks so loudly’, and other such control freak behaviour. But think. Nothing about sitting in the cinema, looking at their bright phone regularly, talking to other staff, going in and out the door every five mins.

VERDICT: potential to be amazing, if they invested some money in the place and some friendliness in their attitude. I recommend you visit, but don’t expect to feel welcome, comfortable, or impressed with the actual tech of the...