It is your last chance to visit Bromley Picturehouse this week as it is set to close its doors for good on Thursday.

The decision to close Bromley Picturehouse, attributed to increasing operational costs and declining admissions, has been met with widespread disappointment and sadness from the local community.

The cinema, housed in a striking Art Deco building designed by famed architect George Coles and dating back to 1936, has been a cornerstone of Bromley's cultural life.

Its closure marks the end of a venue that has played a significant role in the town's history, echoing the golden years of cinema from the 1920s and 30s.

Despite the closure, Picturehouse Cinemas has opened three new cinemas in the past six months.

A spokesperson for Bromley Picturehouse said: “Bromley Picturehouse - Closure - last day of trading 1 Aug “We've made the tough decision to close Bromley Picturehouse.

The last day of trading will be Thursday 1st August.

“Picturehouse Cinemas remains committed to growth and will have opened three new cinemas over the past six months.

“However, increasing operational costs and declining admissions have led to us making this difficult announcement.

“We'd like to thank our hard-working team and everyone who has visited us over the years and will contact Picturehouse Members about their membership in the coming days.”

During its last week, there are still plenty of films to see with some of the highlights being: Deadpool & Wolverine (15, 128 min), Despicable Me 4 (U, 94 min), Inside Out 2 (U, 96 min), Longlegs (15, 101 min) and Thelma (12A, 98 min).

In response to the closure, local resident Jon Lock has initiated a petition to save the Picturehouse, which has quickly garnered over 5,000 signatures.

Jon’s petition highlights the personal and cultural significance of the cinema, describing it as a "haven" and an essential part of Bromley's local identity.

The petition underscores the community's desire to preserve this cultural hub, emphasizing that its potential loss would mean more than just the closure of a cinema—it would mean losing a piece of Bromley's history.

The community continues to battle to try and keep the Picturehouse open as well as looking for alternative options for the venue after August 1.

Jon, a lifelong Bromley resident and an ardent supporter of independent cinemas, expressed his passion for the venue, highlighting how it offers a unique alternative to the more commercial multiplexes in the area.

He emphasized that the Picturehouse is not just a cinema but a sanctuary for many, providing a space to escape, relax, and immerse in the art of film.

Jon explained: “For my mental health, it’s the closest thing I find to meditation. So I go there for three hours, I can switch off, forget everything, and I think there’s a lot of people who feel the same.

“So that place really is a bit of a beacon for me, somewhere I can kind of go to escape. The second I heard it was closing, I just wanted to do something.”