We ❤️ the PCC!

When the Prince Charles Cinema, a London institution, was threatened by its landlord last year, the #SaveThePCC campaign quickly made headlines, drawing support from audiences and filmmakers including Paul Thomas Anderson, Paul Mescal and Edgar Wright.

But the PCC has never really been about star power. It is about the communal love of cinema at its most devoted and least algorithmic: repertory screenings, marathons, all-nighters, mystery movies, battered favourites, the film you wish you had been alive to see properly the first time round. It is a place stuck in the ’70s in the best way: good cinema etiquette, a little Leicester Square sleaze left over from when the area was less than squeaky clean, and a kind, funny, knowable group of staff keeping the whole thing running. Descending into the Downstairs screen at noon on a Wednesday, when the rest of the world has forgotten you, to watch a 1976 kung fu film is a very particular kind of romance — and one you can only really find at the PCC.

If you’ve never been, the Prince Charles Cinema sits just off Leicester Square in London’s Soho. There are no assigned seats, no ad barrage, and only two screens; the programme runs from 70mm classics to cult oddities. People tend to find it through word of mouth, friends, teachers, family traditions, or one perfectly timed listing — and one visit often becomes a habit.

For a generation raised on endless streaming and shrinking cinema screens, the PCC offers something different: real people, real community, and a portal back to when films had to be found in theatres. It has also become a favourite hangout for indie directors, film workers and regular film obsessives, with cast-and-crew screenings, special events and the kind of programming that makes you rearrange your week.

When the #SaveThePCC campaign began, we reached out to a handful of people who love the cinema — filmmakers, students, industry folk and lifelong regulars — about their first visits, their habits, and why this scrappy two-screen London institution inspires such protective affection.

Our PCC fans

Rebecca Coley, Film Director

James Cleave, Film Director

Jordan Sclater, Film Director

Raul Pozos, Film Student

Izzy Bayley-King, Actor

Gavriel Peters, Cinephile

When did you first come across the cinema? Did someone introduce you?

For director Rebecca Coley, it was filmmaker chatter when she first moved to London in the early 2000s. “I heard people at the London Short Film Festival talking about it and was like, I need to go,” she says. The first film she saw there? Before Sunset. A strong opener, no notes.

For James Cleave, it was a cast and crew screening, "for one of the biggest films I'd worked on – and to see my name on the big screen (albeit 5 minutes into the credit scroll at the time), was uniquely special."

For Jordan Sclater, it was “a suggestion from a friend as a possible thing to do on my birthday.”

For Raul Pozos, it was a teacher who caught his Criterion/A24/MUBI energy and sent him straight to the source: “He said to me I should go catch whatever was on.”

Izzy Bayley-King grew up with the PCC – “The Prince Charles Cinema was just always a part of our family’s London experience — my parents met during their time studying at London universities, and my Mum visited many times as the PCC was right in the heart of her West End stomping ground as a music student. Growing up, it was as much a landmark for me as the Natural History Museum and Big Ben."

And for Gavriel Peters, the gateway was Rocky Horror (iconic), the summer after GCSEs, "My mum (who used to work in the West End) introduced me. She had been going for years with my dad or her mates, so it was lovely for me to be able to discover it in my own way."

What’s the coolest feature you’ve ever been to at the PCC?

Rebecca: Point Break! Also loved watching Paper Moon & The Matrix there!

James:  I’ve watched movie marathons, special Q&As with some of my favourite directors, and even watched short films screened by friends. It’s one of the few cinemas to dedicate valuable screen time to historic, special print (70mm!), and iconic films that other chain cinemas would never dream of offering.

Jordan: A 35mm screening of Targets. The PCC really captured the grindhouse experience. 

Raul: The unrestored 70mm print of Space Odyssey. 

Gavriel: Rocky Horror sing-a-long 100%. I love the atmosphere and the eclectic mix of people of all ages and from all areas, all coming together.

Izzy: When I first moved to London, my whole life had recently been turned on its head. I stepped off the train one Saturday with two small suitcases and a heavy heart, and I don’t think I had ever felt so small. 

Two days later, and struggling to feel settled during an aimless and chilly walk around Soho, I sought refuge in the downstairs screen for the first time when I saw Singin’ In The Rain was about to begin. I had fallen quite in love with Gene Kelly as a little girl, and this was a treasured favourite of mine, yet I’d never had the chance to see it on the big screen. Not a bad first visit to this cinema, I thought, and at the very least it would be a decent distraction from everything outside. I warmed up, had two gorgeous hours of the kind of escapism only cinema can provide, and I walked out feeling a little lighter and a little more like myself. I enjoyed two more screenings that day, and the Prince Charles became more than just a familiar spot on a map, but someplace meaningful and cherished that I knew would be important as I carved out my own little place in the city. No matter where I ended up or what I was going through, Prince Charles was a constant and ready to welcome me however I needed.

So coolest? Maybe not to everyone’s taste – but it's still maybe my fondest memory at the PCC, and every now and then I like to drop in to see Singin’ In The Rain when I’m free, just to check it’s still as magical as it was then. (So far, it hasn’t let me down.)

What are your PCC habits? Do you have a favourite time or type of film you see when you’re there?

Rebecca: If I have a day off, going in the afternoon is a dream. I like to watch something unexpected - I’m always like oh wow, I always wanted to watch that on the big screen! I like to go to Soho & have a Bar Italia coffee & cake if I’m in full film mode.

Jordan: I like to go during the day if possible. I like dropping in on a random film that I haven’t seen before but looks interesting, especially if the downstairs screening room is quiet. 

Raul: No favourite, but I usually try to catch the old ones like Seventh Seal or Daisies.

Gavriel: Definitely taking advantage of the £1 member screenings. As I'm at uni, I try to go to the PCC whenever I'm back at home in London, so I love going to see the £1 member screenings, regardless of whether I've heard of the films or not. I'm up for any kind of film, but I have a soft spot for the ones in 35mm.

Izzy: I slip into two patterns – if I find myself with spare time on my hands I’m a master at shoehorning in whatever showing catches my eye, or I look ahead over the next month or two and cherry pick old favourites I’d love to revisit, maybe a title that’s been buried in my watchlist or something new I’d like to discover. I trust the team at PCC – if it’s listed, it’s worth my time.

Upstairs vs Downstairs

Rebecca: Both – I’ve watched loads of amazing films downstairs, but I had my own film screening upstairs for my documentary premiere, Point of Change, so that was special.

Jordan: Upstairs for comfort, downstairs for the vibe. 

Raul: Downstairs, of course.

Izzy: Downstairs is great, we all know it’s great, it gets all the love… but upstairs is so precious – someone has to die on this hill, and I don’t mind if it’s me.

Gavriel: Upstairs, 100%.

Have you experienced an all-nighter, singalong or mystery screening?

Rebecca: Not yet. I was watching everyone queuing for Rocky Horror after my film played & everyone was dressed up & I was like, HOW have I never done this in my life? 

Jordan: I have not been to a sing-along but have been to screenings of several musicals, i.e. Little Shop of Horrors. I have gone to see a film I’ve never heard of before by just showing up and seeing what was on. 

Raul: [Singalong,] Rocky Horror Picture Show. [All-Nighter] The anime all-nighter was my dream come true, but waking up early prevented me from attending. 

Gavriel: [All Nighters]  NO I HAVEN'T, BUT I'VE BEEN MEANING TO FOR SO LONG. Over the summer, I definitely want to try to take advantage of the all-nighters. [Singalong] Yes, I've been to the Rocky Horror screenings several times with my mates and loved everything from the props, dressing up, singing and shouting along with the film and the costume competition. Genuinely nothing like it. [Mystery Films] I've been to 2 or 3 mystery films, and whilst I can't remember the names, I know they were all amazing. One of my favourite things is how different every mystery screening is; you genuinely never know what you're gonna get. 

Izzy: My all-nighter cherry will be popped in spectacular fashion with a Lord of the Rings Extended Edition marathon in 4K, because who am I kidding, of course it should. In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes… and LoTR rewatches. Karaoke is my personal idea of hell, and I’m far too shy to ever sing in public ever (ever!) again, so as cute as it is to see Rocky Horror patrons in full glam when I leave my Friday night showings, I like to leave them to it. Though I will say this: I have considered slipping into the back of a Wicked screening… if you happen to catch me there, shh, it’s a secret… I actually had my ticket at the ready for my first mystery marathon last year, but work was taking me out of London early the next morning, so I decided to pass it up. Black Rain was first on the bill — my ultimate film, and Hans Zimmer’s greatest score so far. I will never forgive myself…

Films You Can’t See Anywhere Else

Rebecca: Lots - Chungking Express, In the mood for love, rear view mirror, north by northwest, pulp fiction...

Jordan: I don’t think any other cinema in the UK would ever show Freddy Got Fingered. 

Raul: Midsommar Director’s Cut – maybe I’m being ignorant, but I was only able to catch this one at the PCC.

Gavriel:  One film I saw was the Napa State Tapes. I booked my ticket about 20 minutes before the film started, knowing very little about it, but as someone very into music history, especially punk and hip-hop, it was fascinating to go into a film like this, which was a mix of recorded performances, documentary-style footage, and personal accounts of the events. 

Izzy: Absolutely! A whole bunch! I don’t often turn to the PCC for new releases or first runs — sometimes I need that big IMAX experience, or I’ve jumped into a London Film Fest screening already - but the Prince Charles is my library, museum and church as a film lover. Features from the 1950s? Smaller productions? Rarely screened? That’s PCC’s forte. Most of what I consume here are features I couldn’t catch just anywhere, and that’s what makes this cinema sacred ground in London.

I wasn’t fortunate enough to be born when Heat was released, but the excitement Dad had when he first shared the shootout with my brother and me made me jealous of everyone who was – the PCC was where I came years later to relive that moment on the big screen, with the speakers to do it justice. Paramount pretty much buried the release of Everybody Wants Some!! here in the UK, but PCC righted that wrong one night last November. For a Few Dollars More, Clue, Harakiri, Blade Runner, Chungking Express… just a few big screen helpings I could only enjoy at the Prince Charles, with hopefully many more to come.

“If the PCC closed tomorrow...”

Rebecca: We cannot let this happen. There’s nowhere else on earth like it! 

James: From my perspective, the PCC is an institution for not only filmmakers and film lovers, but also for Soho itself. Over the years, the area has become sanitised and is repeatedly on the brink of becoming another soulless part of London. Losing a hub such as the PCC would further its demise.

Jordan: Not too sure – I can think of BFI for some older films and Curzon for foreign films – but don’t think anywhere could match for special screenings and the atmosphere. 

Raul: This is a leading question, as there is no place like the PCC, no? No, there isn’t. Everyman has interesting screenings, but they don’t come close. 

Gavriel: I have no idea where I'd go. The closest independent cinema to me is probably the Greenwich Picturehouse, as I'm from Southeast London, but it's so much more expensive than other cinemas. In addition, the PCC has such a strong sense of community without feeling pretentious or exclusionary. I've never been anywhere quite like it. 

Izzy: It won’t go, because we won’t let it. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about the Actors Centre lately, a members-only haven for creatives that lived just around the corner on Tower Street, which we didn’t appreciate enough until it was gone. A few years back, with barely any warning, my fellow members and I got an email promising a ‘refreshed and renewed’ renovation for The Actor’s Centre – in reality, our vital hub for working professionals was closed for good, and the Seven Dials Playhouse opened in its place as yet another West End performance space, with no means to give back to or grow the industry. It was a devastating blow, and my first personal taste of cultural mainstays being gutted from our city.

That loss was stark, but the Prince Charles Cinema is much more than just a network for artists or a creative grindstone for a select few. It’s a celebration of cinema for the many, loved by industry pros and the everyday filmgoers alike. And heck, if it’s good enough for Eggers and Tarantino, it’ll sure do for me.

I’m not precious about movies… until it comes to the PCC. My other movie habits wouldn’t change, but the PCC closing would be a hole I couldn’t fill, because there isn’t anything like it. We are rapidly losing historic and accessible means to create and appreciate arts in the UK, and letting a place like the Prince Charles slip through our fingers would be an almighty loss. As that dude Dewey Finn would say, it’s time to stick it to the man and save our cinema.

Final Love Letters

Rebecca: We cannot let this happen. There’s nowhere else on earth like it! 

James: I thank everyone involved in keeping this treasure going and hope it continues for many generations to come.

Jordan: Accidentally missing a screening of Barry Lyndon, so having to watch Freddy Got Fingered instead will be one of the cinematic highlights of my life.

Raul: I’m not a Brit, where I come from — Mexico — cinema doesn’t have all the appreciation and care as you guys have over there. I was amazed that the audience even clapped their hands at the end of a feature; there’s a great dedication and care for cinema and culture at the Prince Charles.

Gavriel: I've always felt so welcome by both the staff and other people attending the PCC. There's always such a nice atmosphere without any sense of snobbery or pressure to know anything about films or 'cinema' before you go in. Prince Charles is so important to me, both as someone who loves the arts and as someone born and raised in South London, with a strong connection to Soho and the West End. It's such an important community space, and I have so many fond memories there.

Izzy: When you work in the film industry that’s riddled with shrapnel wounds from lockdowns and strikes, it’s all too easy to be cynical about where we are and mourn where we could be. But each visit to Prince Charles leaves me with a teeny bit more hope that cinema is alive and kicking. I saw three screenings across two days last weekend, and every single seat was filled, every showing. Meanwhile, in Wood Green or Islington, it’s just me and the tumbleweed taking our seats for the latest release. Make of that what you will.

So keep an eye on the Save the Prince Charles Cinema campaign, grab a membership if you can, and check out what the team are cooking up this year at the PCC.

Final credits

The Prince Charles Cinema is one of those final bastions of aliveness and community. It doesn't need to be all things for all people; it's somewhere that always feels open and is devoted to the passions of a dedicated group of film lovers. It's no wonder OBSCURAE loves the PCC, and so do so many other London cinephiles and filmmakers. It’s where cinema never had to modernise, grow up or pander.

If you’re in London, make the trip. If you ever visit, do the same. For the rest of you, we hope you have somewhere like the PCC: a place to worship at the altar of good art, well respected.

See you in the lobby 💕