Never go with a hippie to a second location, as 30 Rock’s Jack Donaghy once noted. But following a beloved cinema to the ends of the Earth – or at least, a few miles to the north east – can only be recommended.
That scenario could be on the cards with Hackney’s Castle Cinema bidding to run a new two-screen picture house in north-east London.
According to the Waltham Forest Echo, the Castle is keen to expand to a second venue in Highams Park’s new The Regal development.
The Regal is getting a full modernisation taking in a cinema, café and 33 apartments.
‘With the recent news that the building’s redevelopment is on track for autumn 2027, our inbox has been overflowing with residents asking if we’ll be involved,’ says the Castle in a statement. ‘We can confirm that we would absolutely love to join the Highams Park community, and we’ve submitted a bid to operate the cinema.’
The development will open on the site of the old Regal Cinema, which ran from 1935 to 1963. Since then, it’s been a bingo hall, snooker hall, bar and nightclub.
‘Our vision is to bring the same community spirit, curated film programme, and welcoming bar space that we pride ourselves on in Hackney,’ says The Castle of its plans for the venue.
‘The selection process is ongoing, and whilst we are incredibly hopeful we know these things take time.’
One of Time Out’s 100 greatest cinemas in the world, the two-screen Homerton picture house is also taking over the running of Catford Mews cinema. The Lewisham venue has been closed since November 2024 after the previous operator was evicted over rent arrears.
This shuttered south east London cinema is coming back to life.
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