Lewisham’s only cinema, Catford Mews, abruptly closed this week after the building was repossessed by Lewisham Council due to outstanding rent arrears. Operated by Really Local Group (RLG), the cinema served as a cherished community hub. It featured not only film screenings but also spaces for local workshops, comedy events, and social gatherings. 

The closure has prompted community outcry, with many expressing frustration over the loss of what one resident described as a “lifeline” for the neighbourhood. According to the council, RLG accrued more than £650,000 in arrears since the cinema’s opening in 2019. Lewisham Council, through its property arm Catford Regeneration Partnership Limited (CRPL), which owns the building, stated that it could no longer afford to carry this level of debt. 

The council noted it had given RLG “multiple opportunities” to address the arrears, but the unpaid rent became unsustainable. CRPL is now actively seeking a new tenant to continue providing community-focused services, while also pledging support for the venue’s affected employees and nearby businesses.

RLG, however, claims it had reached an agreement on a ten-year repayment plan with the council earlier this year but alleged that the council imposed “impossible” terms, including a substantial lump-sum payment due at the end of September. This recent closure is part of a broader pattern of financial instability for RLG. In the past three months, two other RLG sites, Peckham Levels and Ealing Project, have faced significant financial issues. 

The former has entered administration with nearly £5 million in debts and the latter liquidated under debts of over £2 million. Lewisham Council emphasised that supporting a private commercial entity to such an extent would be unfair to local taxpayers and other businesses who meet their rent obligations in time.

In response, RLG has launched a “Save Catford Mews” campaign, urging community members to advocate for the cinema’s return. A petition to keep the venue open has gathered nearly 4,600 signatures, underscoring the strong community support for Catford Mews. Lewisham Council has indicated it will explore options to reopen the venue under new management, aiming to preserve its community role while ensuring financial sustainability. RLG continues to contest the council’s statements, describing them as “misinformation and spin.”