Cinema

Located in the north London inner-city district of Hoxton. Opened on 20th January 1914, this never had a specific ‘name’ and was always known as the Cinema or Hoxton Cinema. The architects were Lovegrove and Papworth.

Initially an independent cinema, it was taken over first by the Hyams Circuit. From March 1928 Denman/Gaumont British Theatres were the operators.

It was closed during the height of the Blitz, and re-opened 23rd February 1941. It closed finally on 26th October 1956, one of the cinemas in the first wave of mass closures by the Rank Organisation due to the effects of TV.

The building was sold off by the Rank Organisation in June 1960 and it became used as a meat packers, later a delicatessen importers and wholesalers and an artists studio.

After laying empty for several years it was announced in 2004 that plans were being proposed to re-open the Cinema as a community cinema and workshop with a possible four screens.

After much delay, work got underway in 2009. Unfortunately, the plans had been revised and the auditorium was demolished in May 2009. The façade has been preserved and a new 4-screen cinema will be built behind it. Architects for the new-build are Waugh Thistleton Architects Ltd. The plans never got off the ground and the façade remained for several years, supported by scaffold. It was demolished in the spring of 2016 and plans are for the Curzon Cinemas chain to rent a planned new 4-screen arthouse cinema in the basement of a new apartment block, which will have a replica of the façade.

The 3-screen Curzon Hoxton opened on 4th June 2021 and has its own page on Cinema Treasures.

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

Ken Roe on March 16, 2006 at 11:57 pm

Photographed in February 2006 (almost 50 years since the Cinema closed its doors):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/98643262/

kevinp on August 22, 2006 at 12:19 pm

Hi Ken and co,

herewith a recent link about final re-opening: I missed the London News programme during this week, but believe it to be accurate via mypartner Katie.

best

Kev P

View link

woody on August 22, 2006 at 11:35 pm

Soon to be reopened by the lovely peope who run the nearby Genesis Mile End.
This will be called the Genesis Hoxton.

The following email message went out to people on the Genesis Cinemas database on August 18th…
Genesis will be on BBC London news on BBC1 tonight around 6.30pm with a
report about its latest venture the new Genesis Hoxton cinema.

The cinema is situated on Pitfield St right next to Hoxton square and Old St
and is due to open sometime within the next 18 months. The report tonight
from outside Genesis Whitechapel will have insight into the new project and
comments about the benefits it’ll give to you the Genesis customer. More
screens, more choice, more movies!

Ian on October 14, 2007 at 3:21 pm

There does not seem to be much happening at the Hoxton Cinema as these pictures from October 2007 show:–

View link

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willprotein on July 7, 2008 at 4:44 pm

anyone know when this cinema is due to reopen? it’s just around the corner from me!

mrhenrymiller on February 27, 2017 at 6:52 am

Looks like Curzon is moving into the space next year, following the demise of the reconstruction efforts and original facade!

RobertKenny on June 20, 2017 at 7:02 am

Will be opening as a three screen Curzon Hoxton in early 2018.

RobertKenny on October 31, 2019 at 4:59 am

Make that early 2020….

rivest266 on May 29, 2021 at 7:06 am

Per https://www.curzon.com/venues/curzon-hoxton/ opening June 4th.