Photo credit: © Lucy Sutton-Long
This weekend saw the 60th anniversary of the re-opening of our local cinema, the Curzon Mayfair. Read on to learn more about its incredible history and why it is such a hidden gem.
About
The Curzon Mayfair cinema is the jewel in the heart of Mayfair, and has been since its opening (then known simply as the Curzon) in 1934. Described by Historic England as “The finest surviving cinema building of the post-war period”; it has always striven “To present its patrons the Finest Films, irrespective of their origins” and shows international cinema alongside many of the hottest English language blockbusters.
It was all the brainchild of racecar driver and intelligence officer Pedro Mones. He spent seven months working in other cinemas under pseudonyms, determined to learn everything about a cinema’s operations and how to make his the best. It was taken over during the war by the Directorate of Army Cinematography and used for screenings and photograph developments, but then re-opened as a cinema under the management of Harold Wingate, who made it the place to go for art house cinema in the city. During this time, the original building was demolished, re-opening as Curzon Mayfair in 1966, and has remained largely unchanged since; complete with William Mitchell’s fibreglass murals in Screen 1.
It is a building simply steeped in history, with tales ranging from the controversial (activist Mary Whitehouse attempted to prosecute the management over a screening of La Grande Bouffe, as she believed it broke public vagrancy laws) to the supernatural (a belief that a critic who passed away watching a film in 1952 still haunts the building to this day). In recent years, the cinema has been home to a full range of exciting and prestigious events, such as hosting premieres for the BFI London Film Festival; and regular red carpet screenings and gala events, for iconic films such as The King’s Speech and La La Land, and more recently The Penguin Lessons and Rental Family. These have been attended by such stars as Emma Stone, Colin Firth and Ryan Gosling. It is truly a place where no two days are the same and you’ll never know what (or who) you’ll find.
With two full screens, a bar stocked with delicious and seasonal food, soft drinks and alcohol, and a truly wonderful ambience; if you’re a fan of film, a visit to the Curzon Mayfair during your stay with us is a must.
We are deeply grateful to Nick Pan of Curzon Mayfair for sharing such fascinating insights and anecdotes which have been used in this article.