Amid a gloomy climate of independent LGBTQ+ businesses closing, The Arzner cinema in Bermondsey isn’t just surviving – it’s thriving.
The Arzner is the UK’s only cinema dedicated entirely to queer film – in a climate of more than half of London’s LGBTQ+ venues closing between 2006 and 2022, according to Greater London Authority figures, with numbers falling from 125 to just 50.
Since opening its doors in February 2025 however, The Arzner has landed in the UK’s top six best selling cinemas for titles including Pillion, The History of Sound and Charli XCX’s The Moment.
Despite the struggles LGBTQ+ venues are facing, there is still demand for shared community spaces.
On 22nd August, the cinema hosted a gala screening of The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel, followed by a live Q&A with the directors.
Next, Gawdland, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World, took to the stage for an introductory performance ahead of a screening of Stop! That! Train!.
The night then closed out with Madonna’s Confessions Tour lighting up the cinema’s summer open-air screen in Bermondsey Square.
Watch the full story below to see The Arzner Cinema, and its community, in full technicolour.
Featured Image Credit: Jacob Gardner
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