Fans and friends gathered in the venue’s bar to share a few final drinks and reminisce about the beloved Bromley Picturehouse.
Michael Burnstead, Strategy and Planning lead for a committee formed to save the cinema, reflected on the emotional impact of the closure.
He said: “We’ve said as a committee and as a much wider group, it’s hard for all of us, and we all hold this place very dear.
“It’s nothing compared to how it is for the staff who put so much into this. As we’ve said, it’s a small but very important part of our lives.
“We’ve probably been in the same space as each other before. We probably sat in Screen One with a load of other people, shuffled in, watched the film, and shuffled out again.
“But now, the idea is to start doing something that brings more of these people together. We talk about films, we talk about other stuff, we meet together, and we do other things as well.
“To me, there’s something even more powerful that can come out of this.”
The evening took an unexpected turn when a huge thunderstorm hit, causing water to gush into the bar area.
Despite the challenging circumstances, the staff worked tirelessly and with good humour to drain the water, allowing the farewell party to continue at the Star and Garter pub across the road.
The cinema’s final screenings included classics The Blues Brothers and, fittingly, Singing in the Rain, with the last showing at 7.30pm.
Around the time of the announcement of the closure, local resident Jon Lock initiated a petition to save the Picturehouse, which quickly garnered over 5,500 signatures.
Jon’s petition highlighted the personal and cultural significance of the cinema, describing it as a “haven” and an essential part of Bromley’s local identity.
Save Bromley Picturehouse movement has since grown into a more established campaign, with a committee formed to spearhead the efforts with more news coming over the next few weeks about plans for the building and potential options for the future.
We spoke with Aaron Truss, a film director and co-director of the Rob Knox London Film Festival.
Aaron said: “I’d love to see it become an Odeon again because that’s what it originally was in 1937. But you never know. I’m sure there are people keeping their eyes on this place because it is a beautiful venue.
“It just needs a bit of a fix. As you can see, there’s a flood happening right now behind my back. But yeah, it would be nice to see someone come along and make a real effort with this because I think the arts are incredibly important to Bromley.
“You can just look at the mural of David Bowie on the wall—that says it all, I think. He was a Bromley boy, and his Bowie’s Bar is a testament to that.
“I think we should honour the artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, and everyone involved. Otherwise, there won’t be another place to do so.
“The Churchill is shutting down, and the library is closing. The last thing I want is to have our culture taken away and replaced with something like a Greggs.”
Aaron explained that the Rob Knox festival, held annually in memory of a young actor who played Marcus Belby in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and was tragically killed in 2008—was scheduled to take place at the Picturehouse this year.
Aaron confirmed that plans were in the works for a new location and an announcement would be made in the coming weeks.
Alice Amt, another supporter of the campaign, added: “I think what makes this place different from everywhere else is that this is more a place for the community. So regardless, or people who are watching films and more, they can always come here and they’re super inclusive.
“During the town hall meeting, someone mentioned feeling like an outsider but always feeling welcome here. That’s great, and it’s a shame to lose that.
“At night, the area is deserted, with only a few young people around, often the wrong crowd.
“As a woman, my friend and I often have nowhere safe to go after six. Restaurants are too much, and quieter places are needed.
“For example, those with ADHD or autism might need a place without loud noises.”
Rob Carrick, the committee chair, shared his thoughts on the community’s future without the Picturehouse. “We’re losing this facility, but we’re not losing the community.
“It’s about how we can galvanize this passion and this energy and this desire to be part of this film-loving community. How can we bring all that together?”
Jon Lock previously shared how the cinema had helped him personally. “For my mental health, it’s the closest thing I find to meditation. So I go there for three hours, I can switch off, forget everything, and I think there’s a lot of people who feel the same.
“The second I heard it was closing, I just wanted to do something.”
A spokesperson for Bromley Picturehouse said: “We’ve made the tough decision to close Bromley Picturehouse. The last day of trading will be Thursday, August 1.
“Picturehouse Cinemas remains committed to growth and will have opened three new cinemas over the past six months.
“However, increasing operational costs and declining admissions have led to us making this difficult announcement.”
