Published: 15 January, 2014
By DAN CARRIER

A NEW independent art-house cinema is being planned for the former North London Polytechnic building in Kentish Town, the New Journal can reveal.

Rumours have been rife for months over what the future holds for the one-time college, which until last year was a Pizza Express restaurant. 

An application has been submitted to turn upper floors into housing, but the developers, Red House, have not applied for a specific use for the large ground-floor hall. 

The New Journal has learned a leading cinema chain who offer upmarket film-going experiences with posh nibbles, cocktails and sofas for two are set to move in. The type of films on the bill would be a mix of trendy foreign flicks, “classics” and the latest releases.

Speculation as to who may be in the running to set up the new picturehouse includes the celebrated Everyman group, who run the Screen On The Green, Screen On The Hill and the flagship Everyman cinema in Holly Bush Vale, Hampstead. Other possibilities include the Soho House group, who run Pizza East in Highgate Road and manage the Electric Cinema in Portobello Road.

The New Journal understands that the people putting the project together are due to announce their plans “imminently”.

Before the polytechnic was built in 1927 there was briefly a cinema called the Coronation Gardens Cinema between 1911 and 1913 on site. Directly opposite the red-brick building, film lovers could watch their favourite stars at the Palace, which opened in 1913 and closed in 1959. 

Meanwhile, the building is currently being occupied by squatters, who have taped a sign to the building’s front doors informing passers-by that they have made their home there. 

People living and working close to the squatters had “no idea” they were there. 

Mohamed Abda, who runs a newsagent close to the building, said: “If they’re in there they have been quiet as mice. Housing round here is very expensive, even I can’t afford to live close to my business, so this is what happens when it gets so unaffordable. 

“If anyone knew they were in there I would know, because all my customers come in here and tell me. They’re keeping themselves a secret. It’s not difficult because it’s a busy road, so it’s easy not to be noticed.”

Patrick Murphy, who lives in a flat nearby, said: “There was a Gucci advert being filmed in the building about two weeks ago. I don’t know how it went from Gucci to squatters. I think I prefer the squatters, it’s more interesting to see what will happen, but I haven’t seen them. It must be a bit chilly for them in there.”