Comments about Curzon Mayfair in London, GB

Ian on June 13, 2022 at 3:13 pm

Thanks for the heads-up Howard - don’t know how that happened, it was working, but now seems to have defaulted to the start of my photostream (in a few days that won’t be the surfers!). The corrected link is below, as I am unable to edit the original post.

CURZON MAYFAIR - Screen 1

HowardBHaas on June 13, 2022 at 1:26 pm

Ian, your 3rd photo link above goes to surfers.

HowardBHaas on June 13, 2022 at 1:24 pm

After a Pandemic pause, I revisited London last month & enjoyed a movie, “Benediction” at this theater, in the main screen. I posted photos. The auditorium is gorgeous. The lobby has a remarkable piece of art which I included in my photos.

Ian on April 16, 2022 at 7:04 pm

Photos from March 2022 here:-

CURZON MAYFAIR - Entrance

CURZON MAYFAIR - Screen 2

CURZON MAYFAIR - Screen 1

rivest266 on May 30, 2021 at 4:17 pm

Grand opening ad posted.

CF100 on May 22, 2018 at 7:39 pm

Good news (from April 2017!):

“Curzon Mayfair cinema saved as developers back off” – City A.M.

zanygang on August 19, 2017 at 9:42 pm

Screen 1 is great, but screen 2 id lousey

duke0077 on April 1, 2017 at 11:30 am

Does anyone remember John Silcock. A projectionist here for a few years. I worked with him at the former Plaza Cinema, Regent Street, London.

CF100 on October 4, 2016 at 6:14 pm

If soundproofing is installed, even if the cost is not bourne by the developer, they may require access to the residential units on the first floor. Whilst they could avoid installing soundproofing by pressuring Curzon into surrendering their lease (i.e. Curzon may just decide they don’t want to face the mounting costs of potential litigation), the risk is that they would end up with very high costs themselves. Which doesn’t sound like a cunning scheme dreamt up by a greedy developer—but, hey, what do I know?

I’m afraid “the law is an ass”…

Bruce Campbell on September 27, 2016 at 9:56 am

Everything must be done to prevent the cinema from being forced to close on account of greedy property companies.

CF100 on September 26, 2016 at 7:17 pm

I have now found the planning application, Westminster Council reference 13/03290/LBC.

It turns out that the upper floors are already residential use, with the conversion of the remaining office space on levels 2 and 3 the subject of the above referenced application.

The planning documents do include an environmental noise survey, but this is in relation to external plant-generated noise.

Westminster Council’s Decision Notice document granting planning approval makes no reference to sound control.

I would hazard a very uneducated guess that specialist acoustic consultants were not involved in this project and the result is now a complex dispute.

CF100 on September 26, 2016 at 1:39 pm

Any changes Sadiq Khan makes would not apply retrospectively; however, as the article notes, the installation of soundproofing was included as a condition of granting planning approval of the 2013 application for this development. (I cannot find the planning application on Westminster Council’s website.)

In the previously linked article (http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/thousands-back-campaign-to-save-mayfair-curzon-from-closure-a3348601.html) Westminster Council says “we imposed a condition that protects the future use of the cinema from complaints by residents by making the developer responsible for installing adequate soundproofing. We are now investigating whether this soundproofing has been properly implemented.”

In the http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-plans-tough-new-rules-for-developers-as-he-wades-into-curzon-cinema-row-a3352481.html article, the developer says “There are a number of outstanding complaints from a number of leaseholders, including existing residents on the third floor, and health and safety issues, and a remedy for volume and vibrations needs to be found.

“Up until now Curzon have simply refused to address the problems which are their responsibility. No changes to the fabric of the cinema have been suggested and no investment has been demanded. Indeed, we have no idea where the earlier reported figure of £500,000 has come from.”

So, from the above, it’s not clear whether the complaints are from leaseholders occupying units pertaining to the 2013 application, and/or otherwise, what type of soundproofing, if any, was installed; and the reference to vibrations suggests that extensive work may be needed; the mere installation of a bit of mineral wool won’t be adequate!

All new dwellings must conform to “Part E” of the Building Regulations (“Resistance to the Passage of Sound”) but AFAIK these would never require sufficient attenuation for movie playback at reference volume levels.

That said, can Curzon not simply apply limiting to all sound channels and possibly turn off the LFE channel, which would not affect dialogue intelligibility?

HowardBHaas on September 25, 2016 at 10:30 pm

I’m a lawyer in the States who saw one movie here. My auditorium photos are on this site & remain the only ones there. I know nothing of British law and don’t know what terms might be in the contract or deed the purchaser of the upstairs owner has, but I’d think whoever purchased it should’ve done their “due diligence” in advance to determine any noise issues. That is, the new owners should’ve inspected the upstairs space, and planned in advance to cover costs of soundproofing the upstairs space.

SethLewis on September 25, 2016 at 10:25 pm

It’s a start

HowardBHaas on September 24, 2016 at 5:07 pm

Let’s hope the Curzon fights to stay in this wonderful theater!

Bruce Campbell on September 24, 2016 at 4:01 pm

agree but it has got to stop! We have lost n the space of 2 years The Leicester Square Theatre, Odeon Kensington, Odeon Marble Arch,Astoria Charing X road, and probably Curzon Soho, and Curzon Kings Road.

CF100 on September 24, 2016 at 12:01 am

Presumably a forced attempt at rendering the cinema unviable so as to use the space for more lucrative options. After all £500K, the cited cost of soundproofing, is chump change in terms of “luxury flat” prices in such a location.

Bruce Campbell on September 20, 2016 at 8:12 am

A total nightmare… I cannot believe the greedy landlords and property developers are going to destroy another cinema in London. At this rate we will have none left….

SethLewis on September 19, 2016 at 10:13 pm

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/thousands-back-campaign-to-save-mayfair-curzon-from-closure-a3348601.html

Curzon Mayfair under threat…Not good…Next cinema saving campaign in London