London’s ‘first dedicated LGBTQ+ cinema’ approved

A movie theatre believed to be London’s first LGBTQ+ cinema has been approved.

Called The Arzner, it is named after Dorothy Arzner, a pioneering lesbian filmmaker who was the first woman to direct a Hollywood talkie more than 100 years ago.

Simon Burke and Piers Greenlees plan to open the cinema and cocktail bar later this year in a venue which was once the home of the independent cinema, Kino Bermondsey.

Speaking at a Southwark Council licensing meeting, Mr Burke said the venue would give visitors “access to art house and independent film”.

The Arznar, in Bermondsey Square, will have one screen with room for up to 50 spectators, with a total capacity of 150 including the bar.

Kino Bermondsey, the space’s former occupant, shut down in January 2023 after not paying rent for 18 months.

Plans were submitted to allow the cinema venue to be used as a shop, restaurant or fitness studio in autumn 2023, but were later withdrawn after Southwark Council advised the proposals were unlikely to be successful.

Mr Burke and his business partner opened the area’s first LGBTQ+ pub, The Rising SE1, in April last year.

He told the meeting: “We are currently the only LGBTQ+ pub in SE1 and this to our knowledge will be the only LGBTQ+ cinema in all of London.

“This licence will allow us to operate a safe space for all in one of the most LGBTQ+ densely-populated areas of the country.”

Mr Burke said the cinema would double the number of LGBTQ+ venues in the area.

The licensing committee gave the new cinema and bar permission to open until 23:00 Sunday to Wednesday and until midnight from Thursday to Saturday.