For London film buffs on a budget, there's only one choice: the excellent Prince Charles Cinema just off Leicester Square. With famously low prices starting from as little as GBP 1.50 it shows a rotating program of cult, arthouse, and classic films alongside the best of recent hollywood releases.
The Prince Charles shows movies in high rotation, typically more than ten different movies a week on a single screen. It also hosts the a popular sing-a-long version of The Sound of Music, which has been shown on a regular basis for over five years. The cinema has achieved a cult status due to its great atmosphere and attitude, and it remains the only independent movie house among the multiplexes and cookie-cutter chain cinemas in the West End.
The cinema offers annual memberships which entitles members to a discount on all film screenings and money off drinks in the licensed downstairs bar - the Kill Bill Bar. Even better, you can take your drinks into the auditorium. It has also now re-launched The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which regularly sells out.
PCC's history
The Prince Charles Cinema has existed in its current incarnation since 1991. Previously, the cinema existed as a theatre, and then as a porn cinema, before becoming the Prince Charles. A relic of its past can be seen in the double 'lovers' chairs on the back two rows, though these are thankfully changed since the cinema's seedier days. In fact, the cinema was refurbished in 2000 and now sports a sexy red auditorium.
Ticket prices
For the cheapest tickets, buy a Prince Charles Cinema Membership, which is available for GBP 9.00 per year.
Below is a guide to PCC's ticket prices. Please note that special events may have different prices from those shown:
Weekday Matinees (shows before 5pm) - GBP 3.50 Full Price, GBP 1.50 PCC Members
Evening/Weekend - GBP 4.50 Full Price, GBP 3.00 PCC Members
Public Holidays - GBP 4.50 Full Price, GBP 3.00 PCC Members
"The Prince Charles Cinema is everything an independent movie theatre should be. For lovers of quality films, this is Mecca" Quentin Tarantino
Contact details
Address: 7 Leicester Place, WC2
Phone: +44 (0)20 7494 3654
Web: www.princecharlescinema.com
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