Catford Mews shuts it doors, leaving Lewisham without a cinema

Lewisham’s only cinema shut its doors this week after the building was reclaimed by the council over rent arrears.

Catford Mews, which sits within Catford Centre, was repossessed by Lewisham council on Tuesday.

In a statement, the local authority said the Really Local Group (RLG), the operators of Catford Mews, had run up more than £650,000 in arrears since 2019. 

Lewisham council said the building’s owner, the Catford Regeneration Partnership Limited (CRPL), which is wholly owned by the council, could not sustain “this level of financial burden”.

RLG said it was “surprised and saddened” at the closure, accusing the council of a “destructive” path by throwing “impossible” terms in a challenging environment.

In its own statement, RLG said it had agreed a new 10-year deal in May regarding the arrears, but claimed the council “delayed” finalising it, with “impossible” terms, including a large payment at the end of September.

It said: “From this date onwards, no one from the council or the local government would respond to our calls/emails seeking a resolution.

“All across the country councils are working with their cinemas to ensure a bright future. It’s a great shame Lewisham council has decided to take this destructive path and force an integral community hub to close. 

“Catford Mews has never just been a commercial venture. It was designed to be a place for residents to make their own, whether that be to join a creative workshop, catch a film, watch comedy or simply hang out with friends.”

But Lewisham council said that while it recognised the value the cinema had brought to the area, its operator had run up “significant arrears” that could no longer be sustained despite “multiple opportunities” provided to RLG.

Officials also noted that other ventures run by RLG, including Peckham Levels and the Ealing Project, had entered administration in the last three months alone. 

A council spokeswoman said: “CRPL is now proactively looking for a tenant to take over the space and bring the community benefits local people will be keen to see. 

“They will also be working with the council to support staff and the independent traders co-located in the building who are impacted.”

Other businesses within the 1970s shopping precinct are also struggling to pay their rent with firms owing their landlord a total of £1.3million, according to papers set before Lewisham council’s cabinet on October 23.

The report blamed a “highly challenging high street and retail environment” for the difficulties firms are having in covering rent and service charges. 

Since 2010, the CRPL has bought up leasehold interests in and around the centre in preparation for the town centre’s future regeneration.

The CRPL’s business plan for 2024 to 2027 shows that the council had loaned the firm £16.9million as of March this year. The loan is expected to grow to £17.6million by March 2025 if no loan interest repayments are made this year. 

The CRPL has been unable to meet loan repayment agreements to the council in previous years.

The deterioration of the shopping centre building has resulted in the CRPL having to splurge money on repairs in recent years, including replacing the centre’s glass canopy and carrying out repairs to some roof areas, according to the business plan.

Over the next three years, around £825,000 worth of urgent repairs are due to be made to the centre. 

Pictured top: Catford Mews, Lewisham’s only cinema has been repossessed by the council (Picture: Catford Mews)