Cinema returning to Catford this summer
Lewisham Council announced that The Castle Cinema, which runs Castle Cinema Hackney, has been selected as the new operator at the former Catford Mews site.
Cinema is set to return to Catford, with the announcement this week that The Castle Cinema will be the operator for 32 Winslade Way, the former Catford Mews venue in Catford Centre.
The firm launched in 2015 with the independent Castle Cinema Hackney and now has a second cinema in Sidcup.
The venue will trade as The Castle Catford and will feature three screens which the council says will offer "independent and foreign language films as well as more mainstream titles".
The operators will also offer community space and a bar, with plans to restart the café/food court in the main foyer.
Asher Charman, co-founder of The Castle Cinema, set out the firm's vision:
“We know how much this venue means to Catford, and we’re honoured to be part of its next chapter. Our goal is to bring The Castle’s independent heart to 32 Winslade Way, pairing a world-class film programme with a relaxed, welcoming bar and café.
“We’re building more than just a cinema; we’re creating a space for culture and connection, for everyone. From Parent & Baby screenings and LGBTQ+ events to curated strands celebrating Black cinema and local heritage, we want our programme to reflect the true diversity and energy of Catford.”
The return of a cinema in Catford Centre is positive news for site owner Catford Regeneration Partnership Ltd (CRPL), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lewisham Council.
The council describes the new cinema as a part of the Council’s long-term strategy to strengthen town centre footfall, support evening and weekend activity and provide accessible cultural opportunities for local residents.
Brenda Dacres, the Mayor of Lewisham, said: “This is just brilliant news not only for Catford but for the wider borough. We shared the community’s view that keeping the cinema offer was incredibly important, and not only has this happened, but we’re going to see it completely transform into an even more vibrant community space."
She acknowledged the lengthy period that the site has been empty: “I want to thank the local community for their patience while we worked to ensure the best operator was selected, one that we know will contribute to the success of Catford Town Centre, and a place that welcomes everyone.”
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Catford Mews and Really Local Group
The recent history of the site at 32 Winslade Way demonstrates some of the challenges the new operator faces.
In 2019, Lewisham Council issued a press statement welcoming cinema operator, Really Local Group, to the former Poundland site.
The council’s statement highlighted the borough’s first multi-screen cinema in a generation, as well a pop-up food market, a community room, a bar and café and a space for live music and comedy.
The press statement boldly claimed that Really Local Group, would "restore cultural infrastructure by putting the heart back into the high street".
Five years later Catford Mews suddenly shut its doors after CRPL, the council-owned landlord, repossessed the building over rent arrears. There then followed an intense public spat between Really Local Group and Lewisham Council over their negotiations prior to the closure.
Really Local Group highlighted that they had been operating during difficult times, having opened their doors just before the Covid pandemic. They also pointed out that they had faced further problems, such as the poor maintenance of the Catford Centre which had led to flooding and in turn expensive repairs, along with the loss of a sub-tenant.
The council responded to these criticisms with a statement asserting that that “Much of what Really Local Group have said in their statement about Catford Mews isn’t true.”
The challenges ahead
Most Catford and Lewisham residents will be wishing every success to the new cinema operator. However, it will be entering a challenging environment.
Irrespective of the claims and counter claims by Lewisham Council and Really Local Group, it emerged that the firm was facing immense difficulties operating in London, and a number of its sites closed before its final liquidation in November 2025.
New operators The Castle Cinema will be taking over a building which was seriously vandalised by squatters last spring, including damage to wiring and plumbing.
The new Catford cinema will also face competition from up the road. Build to Rent developer Get Living, which built the troubled Filigree development, announced last week that the Irish movie chain Arc Cinema will be opening a nine-screen cinema near the Filigree in Lewisham town centre.
The council announced that "for the first time in 25 years, a traditional, multiplex cinema will be returning to the borough".
Finally, The Castle Cinema is a small operator - the Catford site will be their third cinema - trying to survive in an industry which is stagnant across the UK.
In fact, 2025 saw fewer people going to the cinema than the previous year. Most worryingly, last year’s cinema attendance of 123.5 million ticket sales were dwarfed by ticket sales of 176.1 million in the pre Covid year of 2019.
Even the bigger cinema operators have been struggling, with for example Cineworld closing a number of its cinema sites.
While Catford residents will celebrate the opening of The Castle Catford, let’s hope it can overcome these many challenges.
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