Catford Mews Closure Prompts Community Concern

Catford Mews, a cinema and food hall located in the Catford Centre, has been closed since October 29, following its repossession by Lewisham Council due to rent arrears. Gabriella Wilkie, 38, a Catford resident, is one of many expressing concern that the area will lack a vital community hub if its only cinema remains shut. Referring to Catford’s sole cinema, Gabriella stated, “There are not many places like that left in south-east London.” She further elaborated on her apprehension, saying, “I worry the divide you get elsewhere is coming,” and characterized the closure as a “massive loss to the community.” Zak Kilburn, 39, another resident of Catford, reiterated Gabriella’s worries. He commented, “It was one of the few openly queer-aligned spaces in the area.” Kilburn also questioned, “You could sit and have a coffee with someone down the road, and where are you going to do that now? ” and concluded, “They’re clearly not going to be bringing it back in the same form.” Lewisham Council stated that the cinema’s operator, the Really Local Group (RLG), had accumulated over £650,000 in debt and had been in arrears since 2019. The council further indicated that it could not sustain operating without the funds owed to the Catford Regeneration Partnership (CRPL), a council-owned entity responsible for the property’s lease. In response, the RLG asserted: “Closing Catford Mews on half term week was intended to inflict maximum damage to our venue and to our reputation.” Their statement proceeded: “Catford Mews has been a crucial pillar of the local community which has now been ripped away from the very people it was designed to serve. We remain optimistic that the council will engage with ourselves to resolve this situation as it is in everyone’s best interest to do so.” The disputes between the council and RLG have centered on the maintenance of adjacent areas and the distribution of grants. The RLG additionally claimed that the council’s closure notice was unexpected, given that a 10-year agreement to operate the venue had been reached with the authority in May. The council countered by stating: “The operators of Catford Mews, have run up significant arrears in since 2019. Despite CRPL’s best efforts, RLG haven’t been able to find a way forward.” A Change.org petition advocating for the preservation of the venue has garnered over 8,000 signatures since its launch on Tuesday.