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Curzon Cinemas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Curzon Cinemas Limited
IndustryLeisure, Entertainment & refreshments
Founded1934
Number of locations
17 cinemas
ProductsTickets, popcorn, alcohol, drinks & confectionery
ParentCurzon (Fortress Investment Group)[1]
Websitewww.curzon.com

Curzon Cinemas Limited (/ˈkɜːrzən/)[2][3] is a chain of cinemas based in the United Kingdom, mostly in London, specialising in art house films. They also have a video on demand service, Curzon Home Cinema.

History

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Curzon Mayfair Cinema

Curzon Cinemas were established in 1934 when Harold Wingate, who imported unknown films during the post World War I period, opened the first cinema in Mayfair. The second location, Curzon Bloomsbury, opened in 1972.

In 2006, Philip Knatchbull acquired Curzon Cinemas and Curzon acquired film distributor, Artificial Eye.[4][5] On 23 December 2019, American-based Cohen Media Group acquired Curzon from Knatchbull, including Curzon Artificial Eye, but Knatchbull remained as chief executive officer until 2023.[6][4]

In February 2024, American investment firm Fortress Investment Group sued Cohen Realty Enterprises for defaulting on loans amounting to $534 million. Fortress then requested the New York Supreme Court to grant a motion for a foreclosure sale, which was later set for November 8 that year. Fortress was reportedly the only bidder for Curzon and related entities, initially offering $5 million to acquire the company. A few days later, it was announced that Fortress had acquired Curzon for $5million.[7][1][8] Following the change, Knatchbull returned as interim executive chairman.[4]

On 23 June 2026, Curzon announced the closure of their Sheffield cinema, stating that the location was no longer profitable due to lack of admissions.[9]

Locations

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The Renoir, Bloomsbury

Curzon Cinemas currently have 16 cinema complexes throughout the United Kingdom.[10]

Current

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Location Screens Notes
Aldgate 4 Opened January 2017
Bloomsbury 6 "The Renoir" Acquired March 2015[11]
Camden 5 Opened 29 October 2021
Canterbury Riverside 5 Opened 26 August 2022
Colchester 3 Opened 6 July 2018
Hoxton 3 Opened 4 June 2021
Kingston 4 Opened 11 November 2022
Knutsford 3 Opened 28 February 2013
Mayfair 2 First Curzon from 1934
Oxford 5 Opened Autumn 2017
Richmond 1
Soho 3 Opened 8 March 1985
Victoria 5 Opened May 2014
Wimbledon 3 Previously "HMVcurzon"

Former

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Location Screens Notes
Canterbury Westgate 3 Opened in 2014 and closed permanently on 2 July 2026.[12]
Chelsea 1 Taken over in 1983 and closed 31 March 2018 but due to reopen following redevelopment of the site.[13]
Ripon 2 Opened 31 October 2013[14] and closed 1 July 2023.[15][16]
Sheffield 3 Opened in 2015 in the former Sheffield Banking Company building, and closed permanently on 29 June 2026.[17]

Franchised locations

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Curzon Cinemas have also franchised their name and operate in partnership with a number of other locations.[18]

Location Partner's name Number of screens Notes
South Bank Curzon Sea Containers 1 Previously Curzon Mondrian, renamed in January 2019 in line with rebrand of Sea Containers Hotel[19][20]

Future locations

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Curzon intends to reopen its Chelsea cinema (which was closed in May 2018) after the site is redeveloped by Cadogan Estates.[21][4] They are also planning to open a new cinema in Hammersmith.[4]

[edit]

Curzon Film is a sister company of Curzon Cinemas, originally formed as Artificial Eye in 1976 and acquired by the group in 2006.[22][5] They cover acquisition, production and distribution rights to films across the UK and Ireland. Artificial Eye was relaunched as a separate label of the group in 2024.[4]

Curzon Home Cinema is a video on demand service launched in 2010.[23]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Ramachandran, Naman (11 November 2024). "Curzon Cinema Chain Acquired by Fortress in U.K. Arthouse Deal". Variety. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  2. ↑ Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.
  3. ↑ Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Harlow: Pearson Education. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McNab, Geoffrey (14 January 2025). ""The future is about multi-territory rights": Curzon's Philip Knatchbull reveals his priorities". Screen International.
  5. 1 2 "About Curzon". Curzon Cinemas.
  6. ↑ Andreas Wiseman (23 December 2019). "Curzon Cinemas & Artificial Eye, UK's Flagship Arthouse Film Group, Acquired By Cohen Media Group". Deadline. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  7. ↑ Goldsmith, Jill (10 November 2024). "Landmark Theatres Gets No Offers At Charles Cohen Foreclosure Auction But Lender Fortress Bid $5 Million For Curzon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  8. ↑ Sugiura, Eri (12 November 2024). "Fortress seizes control of art house cinema chain Curzon". Financial Times. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  9. ↑ "Sheffield city centre cinema to permanently close due to fall in admissions". The Star. 23 June 2026. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "Curzon Cinemas". Curzon World. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  11. ↑ "Renoir to Curzon Bloomsbury: a rebranding too far". TheGuardian.com. 19 November 2008.
  12. ↑ "Exact date announced for closure of Kent city centre cinema". Kent Live. 24 June 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Curzon Chelsea Cinema in London, GB - Cinema Treasures".
  14. ↑ "Curzon Ripon in Ripon, GB - Cinema Treasures".
  15. ↑ "Curzon - Curzon Ripon cinema closed permanently on 1 July 2023".
  16. ↑ "Curzon to close Ripon cinema". 14 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "Sheffield's Curzon cinema to close its doors". TheBusinessDesk.com. 24 June 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Home".
  19. ↑ Sea Containers London https://www.seacontainerslondon.com. Retrieved 26 July 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ↑ "Home". curzonseacontainers.com.
  21. ↑ "Curzon Chelsea cinema information". www.curzoncinemas.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018.
  22. ↑ "Curzon Artificial Eye".
  23. ↑ "Home".
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