Prince Charles Cinema

Recently visited this cinema...clearly run by people who care about presentation and customer service....and at £1.50 in the afternoon great value for money.

This has had an interesting history both as a first run theatre and now as a second run discount house...As a first run remember seeing Jacques Tati's Traffic here in around 1972...believe it also had Emanuelle here for over a year...When I settled in London it was a second tier first run theatre showing mostly pictures from local distributor Guild - saw The Hot Spot, Narrow Margin and a preview of Grand Canyon here...Since around 1991 the Robins family has operated it as a discount with a robust schedule of recent hits...over the years have seen The Hudsecker Proxy, The Firm, Bad Lieutenant, Lost Highway, City of God here...it's busy studenty and fun and there is a membership scheme which will save you even more for around £9 up front...the theatre must seat around 250 downstairs and 100 upstairs and both are double aisled...
This is a must for budget travellers to London to catch the odd film they missed back home

Excellent VFM and an interesting and varied programme of films. About the nearest we have to a central London full-time rep cinema these days. Worth venturing into Leicester Square to visit this cinema (and IMO not much else). They have a website at http://www.princecharlescinema.com

This close-up view of the fin sign on the Prince Charles Cinema shows that us 'Brit's' have a sense of humour and hopefuly H.R.H Prince Charles does too!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beltzascene2/82295092/in/pool-cinemasignage/

Here is another photo of the Prince Charles Cinema.

This is a night view of the Prince Charles Cinema.

My photo from April:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardbhaas/128449428/

OOH LOOK DEAR
AN INDEPENDENT CINEMA!

I wish the balcony was open more often than only 1st shows on Monday to Friday. I sat there once, and greatly enjoyed the view.

Has the theaters "namesake" ever attended? I hope so. Perhaps he should write a healthy checque to restore this place befitting its name.
Another way to keep your patrons happy and returning time and time again is to OPEN THE BALCONY. The income from extra ticket sales is well worth it.
I'm an ex-Brit now living in California wondering is old "Blighty" still has that archaic policy of charging higher prices for the balcony? "Swipe me" as Tony Hancock often said! The open balcony policy is good for business.
Hello theater owners, take note, it's a FACT!!!!!!!!!

Here is a recent close-up view of the Prince Charles Cinema.

A September 2007 view here:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/1350685472/

It was owned by the Star Group of Leeds in the mid 1960's for whom I worked as a Mobile Chief Operator.

Visited the cinema a few time when they were short staffed and I remember the frustration of the company at the sight lines.

Unfortunatly I was busy when it reopened after the rebuild and I never go to see how it had changed.

This is a recent night view of the Prince Charles Cinema. I'm not sure if thats a movie title or just bad grammar.

It's from the ultra cool film "Bad Santa." A line as a bonnie lass has it off in a car with Billy Bob Thorton who plays a down in the dumps department store Santa Claus. Brillant stuff that.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/sets/72157604741305427/

prince charles and the zombie strippers - sept 08
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2870309878/

Everyone's above photos are repeats, repeats, repeats, repeats!

That is largely because it is practically only possible to photograph this theatre from one angle - the streets are so narrow and the only other facade is rather dull!

However here is an interior photograph :-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/61348848/

Here is a November 2008 photo.

LM, that December 28, 2007 marquee was most likely a promo for French Connection UK, the clothing store. They were quite famous for their "FCUK Argentina" World Cup campaign.

Thanks Al. At first I thought it was advertising an adult movie. I forgot how serious soccer is taken outside of the U.S. :)

This is a 2009 photo.

Some photos taken this week - February 2009 - of the interiors of the two cinemas, and (just for Simon Overton) a shot of the exterior from the other side - note how the signage is angled away towards Leicester Square!

Exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3277684583/

Downstairs screen and new projection box:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3277684883/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3278507494/

Upstairs (new) screen:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3277685281/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3277685117/

A good conversion, with the new screen luxuriously fitted out. Interesting to see the unusual arrangement for the new projection suite at the front of the former balcony.

I remember it being pretty notorious as the only cinema playing Tinto Brass' dreadful 'Caligula' for seemingly years and years in London.