After 21 months of uncertainty, one of the world’s most beloved independent cinemas finally has a secure future. London’s Prince Charles Cinema has signed a new 25-year lease without a break clause, ending a dispute over a proposed provision that could have forced the venue to vacate with just six months’ notice if its landlord pursued redevelopment. More than 168,000 people signed a petition to save the cinema, attracting support from filmmakers and moviegoers around the world.

What made the dispute particularly troubling was that the Prince Charles was hardly struggling to attract audiences. In 2024, its two screens sold more than 250,000 tickets for 858 different films, ranging from repertory classics to singalongs and all-night marathons. The issue was not whether audiences wanted the cinema to survive, but whether it could secure the premises long enough to invest in its future.

The announcement coincides with the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) naming 15 venues to its Cinema of the Year longlist, following nearly 50,000 public votes. Among them are Edinburgh’s Filmhouse, which reopened last year after nearly three years of closure, and Oxford’s Ultimate Picture Palace, which faces its own uncertainty over long-term lease security. Five finalists will be announced on 3 November.

Together, the two stories offer a reminder that independent cinemas can be both commercially successful and financially vulnerable. Public affection is a powerful asset, but it cannot replace secure tenancy arrangements. The Prince Charles now has something every exhibitor needs before committing to long-term investment: confidence that the building will still be there.