Bermondsey councillors are fighting a landlord’s plans to get rid of a “much-loved” cinema.
Landlord Oval Real Estate has submitted plans to turn 10 Bermondsey Square, formerly home to Kino Cinema, into a shop, restaurant or sports facility.
But councillors say local residents are “desperate” for it to remain a cultural venue.
Kino Cinema Bermondsey on a knife-edge as eleventh-hour talks beckon
They have pointed out that the Bermondsey Square development only got planning permission in 2005 on the condition that the unit would remain a “cinema and arts club / exhibition space”.
In a letter to Southwark Council’s planning department, Cllr Sunil Chopra, Cllr Sam Dalton and Cllr Emily Hickson wrote: “Local residents are desperate for this space to continue as a cultural hub which provides great public benefits.”
“There is no lesser need now for this cultural hub, at a time when community centres, youth activities and many other forms of collective spaces have been rapidly decreasing in number,” the letter added.
But in documents submitted to Southwark Council, Oval Real Estate has suggested a cinema isn’t financially viable.
A planning statement sent to the council by planning advisors Turley, on behalf of Oval Real Estate, said there was “limited suitability for a continued cinema use on the site”.
It also claimed council officers had noted that it was “unlikely” that another cinema would want to occupy the space given it only has “sufficient space for a single screen”.
But Cllr Dalton said: “We as councillors want there to be a cultural and public benefit. We’re quite broadminded about what it could be. It doesn’t have to be a cinema.”
The councillors have suggested it could become a venue similar to Morocco Bound – a nearby bookshop and community hub hosting jazz nights, poetry readings, book clubs and more.
Kino closed in January 2023 after failing to reach an agreement with Oval Real Estate over a reduction in rent costs.
The cinema claimed Oval Real Estate had increased rent “substantially” – understood to be a fourteen per cent rise – and upped service charge rates.
But Oval Real Estate argued it had already given Kino two rental concession periods and that service charge increases were “marginal”.
According to the Labour councillors, service charge payments and rent had reached an annual total of £86,000 but Oval Real Estate has not confirmed this.
Dominic Delargy, a local podcaster who used to put movies on at Kino, said Oval Real Estate should “take the financial hit” and allow it to remain a cultural space.
“I think it’s very cynical,” he said. “They [Oval Real Estate] could… make it a decent functioning arts venue for local residents and workers and they could be subsidising it by charging a lower rent but they’re charging a commercial rent.”
When the cinema first opened in 2009 it was called Shortwave Cinema before changing hands and becoming Kino in 2017.
Oval Real Estate was approached for comment.