Curzon in Soho: how the cinema became famous

It’s nearly a century since film-lovin’ entrepreneur Harold Wingate opened the first Curzon cinema in 1934, with a view to screening lesser-known flicks of the post-WW1 era, a spirit that continues to imbue Curzon’s movie selections to this day. 

Fast-forward to February 1959, and the single-screen Columbia Cinema opens its doors at 99 Shaftesbury Avenue, kicking off proceedings with a seven-month run of musical comedy classic ‘Gigi’. The cinema was wildly popular, screening British premieres of ‘Lolita’, ‘The Collector’ and ‘King Rat’. It even got the royal seal of approval: in 1981, the Queen and Prince Philip attended the Columbia’s charity premiere of ‘The Competition’, a frothy musical rom-com starring Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving.

A brief period in the hands of the Classic Cinemas chain followed from 1982-1984 before Curzon acquired and remodelled the cinema. And the rest, as they say, is history…

Bonus fact: Wingate’s flagship Mayfair movie theatre is still there at 37-38 Curzon Street, albeit in a (slightly) more modern Art Deco-style building that absolutely exudes the spirit of the Swinging Sixties.

The Curzon opened in Soho (as the Curzon West End) in March 1985, and rapidly established itself as London’s arthouse powerhouse, screening independent, foreign and underground movies that generally weren’t being shown elsewhere. It became a champion of visionary directors like Lars Von Trier, Lynne Ramsay, Michael Haneke, Andrei Tarkovsky and Peter Strickland, and the directors, in their turn, championed the Curzon: Edgar Wright, director of ‘Shaun of the Dead’ and ‘Last Night in Soho’ has praised the chain as having “some of the best arthouse cinemas in London”, while ‘Red Road’ and ‘Fish Tank’ director Andrea Arnold went a step further, calling it “the coolest cinema in the world". 

In 1998, the cinema closed for a major refurb, reopening several months later as the Curzon Soho, a glitzy three-screen complex with a quite excellent street-level café and subterranean foyer bar. A triple-threat statement of intent accompanied the relaunch: the first movies screened in the new era were Vincent Gallo’s ‘Buffalo 66’, Érick Zonca’s ‘The Dreamlife of Angels, and Claude Chabrol crime caper ‘Rien ne va Plus’ (aka ‘The Swindle’).

Not just a cinema but a veritable cultural hub in the West End, the Curzon Soho is a fine spot to while away a few hours whether you fancy seeing a film or not. The street-level café has wraparound windows with widescreen views of Shaftesbury Avenue, excellent for pre-show pizza, or just people-watching over coffee and cake.

To descend to the foyer bar is to enter a half-lit ‘Blade Runner’-esque world of pink neon, comfy sofas and cool vintage posters. By central London standards, the drinks are surprisingly affordable, too: a pint, a glass of wine and a bucket of popcorn will still leave you change out of £20. Crazy, right?

And that ain’t all: there are several more Curzons to discover across London and beyond, including the aforementioned flagship Mayfair venue, plus cinemas in Victoria, Bloomsbury, Canterbury, Colchester and Sheffield.

Pro-tip: The London Pass® includes entry to a film screening at the Curzon Soho as well as access to over 100 more top London attractions, tours and activities – and could save you over 50% on regular prices. 

You betcha! The Curzon Soho is right in the middle of London’s entertainment district, meaning world-beating theatres galore, exceptional London dining and nightlife, and more top-tier attractions than you can shake a very large stick at. We’re talking Trafalgar Square – home of the National Gallery and Nelson’s Column (and gateway to Whitehall and Buckingham Palace) – plus the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, world-class Oxford and Regent Street shopping and, of course, the sensory smorgasbord that is London’s colourful Chinatown district. Want to find out more? Check out our blogs about: 

• London’s best walks (including the mighty Soho)
• The most essential attractions and eats in Chinatown
• Piccadilly Circus highlights
• The best of Leicester Square