Five Screen Cinema For Chiswick High Road

Rambert Dance company agrees sale with Picturehouse Cinemas

Chiswick is to get a five-screen cinema complex on the site of the former Rambert Dance Company.

Rambert Dance Company announced today (May 3rd) that it has exchanged contracts for its property in Chiswick with Picturehouse Cinemas – the UK’s leading independent cinema group.

Picturehouse plans to convert the building from its current use to a cinema facility with five screens, a bar and café. A full planning application is currently with London Borough of Hounslow.

Formed in 1989, Picturehouse now owns and operates 21 cinemas; the most recent openings were the Hackney Picturehouse and Brighton’s Dukes @ Komedia. It has cinemas in Hackney, Clapham and Stratford in London and an additional 36 independently operated venues throughout the UK. The company is a stand-alone entity within Cineworld Group plc, and the sale was announced in early December 2012.

Its venues also broadcast live opera and theatre, pioneering live Screen Arts cinecasts from a variety of venues including the National Theatre, the New York Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House, as well as regular filmmaker Q&As.

Rambert Dance Company has been based on Chiswick High Road since 1971 but will take up residency in new purpose-built headquarters on the South Bank later this year. The sale of the building is a significant step toward the move to the new building.

Picturehouse is keen to celebrate the building’s heritage and an exhibition of posters and photography will pay tribute to Rambert’s connection with the site.

Nadia Stern, Chief Executive of Rambert Dance Company said: “Rambert is delighted that the building that has been our home for more than 40 years will continue to make a high quality contribution to the cultural life of the area. We have loved being in Chiswick but have outgrown our premises, hence the need to build new headquarters. We are especially pleased that all the years we have spent here will be commemorated when the new cinema opens.”

Lyn Goleby , Managing Director of Picturehouse Cinemas said: “Picturehouse are really excited to be coming to Chiswick, and in particular, to a building with such strong artistic heritage. The Rambert Dance Company premises have great spaces with lots of character and we’ll create a unique cinema for the community. We have some exciting plans for an open-air terrace where we hope to provide a fantastic meeting place for locals.”

There will be two opportunities in May for local residents to view proposed plans for the building’s conversion; an informal exhibition will be on display at St Michael and All Angels Church in Chiswick on 15 and 25 May.

May 3, 2013