AN HISTORIC cinema is set to shut down after several years of bitter legal disputes.
The cinema will be closing for redevelopments almost a century after it was built in 1934.
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After years of legal disputes, the Curzon Mayfair in London has withdrawn from litigation, allowing for the site to be redeveloped which is expected to begin in January 2026.
Curzon had spent several years trying to negotiate a new long-term lease with the landlord before it expired in March 2024.
A petition to save the cinema was signed by more than 20,000 people who enjoy regular premiere screenings, with directors like Stephen Spielberg attending for his film The Fablemans.
Now though, the landlord will be going ahead with plans to refurbish the building themselves, meaning Curzon will no longer run the cinema.
In a recent statement, Curzon said: “Sadly, Curzon has concluded that it had no option but to withdraw its legal challenge to the landlord’s plans, given the risk of meeting the landlord’s enormous legal costs should the challenge prove unsuccessful.”
They previously expressed concern that: “Curzon Mayfair will become no more than a glorified private members’ club rather than a cinema and an iconic cultural institution will be lost forever.”
The site will be taken over by Fantasio, a development company with a successful history in rejuvenating London social spaces.
CEO Dan Zaum said in a statement: “We are passionate about creating London’s ultimate cinema experience.
“The Mayfair cinema will always have film at its heart – and will become a vibrant venue serving the wider community, creatively, socially, educationally and beyond.”
They previously promised to spend £15 million on refurbishing the site, hoping to restore the cinema’s original features and install new audio and visual screen technology.
The cinema itself will keep its two screens, while a new bar and dine-in restaurant will be built to enhance the movie-going experience.
In a 2023 statement, the CEO of Fantasio said: “I see the Mayfair cinema being reinstated to its former glory and reinventing the art of cinema-going.
“This iconic piece of architecture and integral part of London’s cinematic history is yearning for revival.”
They also promised “a wide range of ticket prices” to ensure “that no-one feels this beautiful cinema is beyond their budget.”
Curzon criticised the landlord’s plans, concerned that the cost of development would lead to expensive ticket prices and a “private members’ club for the super-wealthy.”
They also fought back against Fantasio’s claims that the cinema was in decline.
They said: “Any suggestion by the landlord that it is a venue in decline is demonstrably false.”
Instead, they said they had experienced 25 per cent year-on-year growth in ticket sales over the past financial quarter.
Fantasio previously successfully refurbished KOKO in Camden in a three year project that was delayed by fire and water damage.
KOKO’s redevelopment cost £70 million and was celebrated with reopening parties by the likes of Jorja Smith and Pete Doherty.
They also oversaw the redevelopment of The Ned and The Wolseley, both iconic London venues that have had a new lease of life since the redevelopment.