Catford Mews – the only cinema in the borough of Lewisham – was forced to close down yesterday after the building was repossessed by its council-owned landlord.

The closure follows long-standing financial challenges faced by its operator, Really Local Group (RLG). 

The sudden closure of the three-screen cinema, which had been in operation for five years, marks a trend of closures among the RLG venues, after the recent shuttering of ActOne Cinema in Acton and Peckham Levels.

The building Catford Mews was located in is owned by Catford Regeneration Partnership Limited (CRPL), a company fully owned by Lewisham Council, but operating separately to manage local regeneration projects.

CRPL, which took back possession of the building yesterday, had attempted to work with RLG over several years to “reach a financially secure future,” an update on the Lewisham Council website said.

CRPL stated that RLG had accrued substantial arrears since signing the lease in 2019, ultimately rendering the business unsustainable.

A message posted on Catford Mews’s Facebook page on Tuesday evening, said it was “surprised and saddened” by the council’s announcement, and claimed that it had agreed the terms of a 10-year deal to stay at the Catford Centre in May.

“This deal included arrears incurred during Covid and exacerbated by the post-pandemic issues in the cinema industry which have seen only one month in the past five years approach pre-Covid levels,” the statement said. 

The council expressed its appreciation for the value Catford Mews brought to the area, saying: “CRPL and the Council acknowledge the value Catford Mews has brought to the area, which is why CRPL worked for several years to support the operators and had given them multiple opportunities to secure their future in Catford.

“However, CRPL cannot continue to carry this level of financial burden supporting a commercial tenant.” 

CRPL said it is now seeking a new tenant that can uphold “the community benefits that Catford Mews brought to the area while managing financial stability”.

Lewisham Council said it is committed to supporting staff and independent traders impacted by the closure, helping them navigate the uncertainty of the coming months.

A petition on Change.org was created yesterday and already has more than 4,000 signatures urging the council to save Catford Mews. The petition highlights Catford Mews’ role as a “vibrant gathering place that provides a unique blend of cinema, events, and food experiences, all integral to the local cultural landscape.”

With Catford Mews facing financial challenges, supporters are urging local authorities and stakeholders to step in and prevent the closure, emphasising the venue’s importance for fostering community connection and accessible cultural experiences.

“This family-friendly gathering space has provided much more than entertainment; it is a place where bonds are formed, friendships flourish, and community spirit thrives,” said the creator of the petition Ryan Abbott.

“The potential closure of Catford Mews threatens the very fabric of our community. It’s not just about the loss of a popular cinema, it’s about robbing our community of a space where they are welcome to socialise, unwind, and feel safe.”

As the petition gains traction, Catford residents and cinema-goers have taken to X to voice their frustration and disappointment over the potential closure of the beloved venue.

Users are sharing memories, calling out the impact of losing another independent cultural space in London, and urging others to sign the petition to show their support.

Lewisham Council has responded to community concerns over the recent closure of Catford Mews, attributing the decision to prolonged financial issues with Really Local Group (RLG), the cinema and cultural venue’s operators.

According to the Council, RLG has accumulated arrears exceeding £650,000 since taking over Catford Mews in 2019, despite several attempts by the Council and the wholly owned Catford Regeneration Partnership Ltd. (CRPL) to renegotiate terms and find a sustainable path forward.

“The Council, or CRPL simply cannot afford to prop up a private commercial organisation to this scale,” the statement noted, emphasising the financial burden this situation has posed on the Council’s regeneration goals and fairness to other local businesses and taxpayers.

The Council also claims that several statements by RLG about Catford Mews’ closure are misleading, pointing to similar financial difficulties reportedly faced by other RLG-operated sites, including Peckham Levels and the Ealing Project, both of which recently entered administration.

In response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Council states it provided RLG with a significant rent-free period and additional support of £77,890, including a £50,000 grant to refurbish the property – work that, according to the Council, was never completed.

Lewisham Council is now exploring options for alternative providers to take over the space and bring renewed cultural and community value to Catford in a “fair and sustainable” way.