Hammersmith Cineworld To Close In Weeks

King Street Art Deco building to be demolished as part of regeneration scheme

Hammersmith's Cineworld cinema has confirmed that it will close its doors to the public in the middle of this month.

On its website, Cineworld thanks local supporters and says:
"We’re sad to share the news that after 20 years in the Hammersmith community the landlord has served us notice.

"The cinema will be closing mid April 2016. Thank you for your support. If you would like to talk us, please call on 0333 003 3444."

Film listings at the King Street cinema extend until Thursday, April 14.

The three storey Art Deco cinema, which dates back to the 1930s, is among buildings to be demolished as part of plans for the regeneration of the western end of King Street around the Town Hall.

When the decision to pull down the cinema was first proposed in 2010, it was strongly contested by local residents and a number of leading actors including Colin Firth, Joely Richardson, Dougray Scott, Shameless actor David Threlfall, Carlo Nero, Joely Richardson and Ralph Fiennes, who said: "As one of the last few remaining in London, this is a local building of merit, profitable, and very popular with not just the local community but people from surrounding areas as well.

"It should be preserved for future generations. Any development would not only lead to an irrevocable loss to the spirit of the area, but would also be a blemish on the landscape."

After undergoing a bumpy ride, with the first application given the go ahead by the council then withdrawn in December 2011. After "significant changes" were made by the developers Helical Bar and Grainger, permission for the scheme was granted in 2013.

The mixed-use development will include a new public square, 196 apartments, retail space, restaurant and café space, replacement offices for the local council and a new Curzon cinema at ground/first floor level in the re-modelled Town Hall Extension building. The cinema will comprise three auditoria with a total of 250 seats, together with ancillary space on part of the ground floor where people can gather to collect tickets, buy drinks etc prior to screenings.

April 1, 2016