Yet tucked inside is what those in the know regard as one of London’s best cinemas, famed for its intimate screenings and a ‘proper’ film experience.

Many people, however, don’t even know where to find it.

At the David Lean Cinema, audiences can enjoy everything from arthouse gems to mainstream favourites at a fraction of Central London prices – £5 if you’re aged 25 or under, or in receipt of certain benefits, or £9.50 for adults over that age.

Named after Croydon-born director David Lean, the cinema offers a haven for those seeking a quiet, distraction-free screening while supporting a volunteer-run cultural hub at the heart of the community.

“People like coming to the David Lean partly because of its distinctive setting and partly because it’s nearly always quiet in here,” says long-time volunteer and Co-Director Adrian Winchester. “It was a modern cinema inside a Victorian town hall. You enter through the Victorian doors of the original lending library, and the pillars you see were the central pillars holding up the roof of the lending library.”

The cinema began its life in 1995 under the operation of Croydon Council. Upon opening, afternoon screenings soon became as popular as evening shows, attracting retirees and others who valued the friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

The cinema also offered films that audiences would otherwise have had to see in Central London or Brixton’s Ritzy. However, when cuts to the council’s arts budget forced the cinema to close in 2011, regulars felt the loss.

The cinema’s farewell season featured support from Julian Fellowes and Addington local Ronnie Corbett, both of whom decried the closure. In April 2011, the cinema had its final screening of the council-run era, the aptly named Last Picture Show.

Adrian recalls: “The last film did seem a fitting part because the final brochure that was produced in that era conspicuously said The Last Picture Show on the cover, with lettering that looked like it was fading out and a black background to emphasise the sadness of this. So, that was the end of the David Lean Cinema as a council-run venue.”

Not wanting to lose a valued local resource, Adrian and other volunteers organised public meetings and pop-up screenings to keep film culture alive. “A key thing that happened in 2011 was that we started doing screenings in community venues, most notably in the Spread Eagle pub next door,” Adrian told the LDRS.

“This was important not only for our mailing list and raising some initial funds, but also getting some volunteers to take on roles in running the cinema.”

After three years of effort, the campaign succeeded, and the cinema reopened in its old home on March 27, 2014. A year later, the cinema announced itself as a community interest company, which allowed it more freedom than when it was under council management.

Adrian told the LDRS: “Not surprisingly, we attract cinema and film nuts who are very passionate; we did things like retain the cinema’s 35mm projectors, which I am sure would have been taken away if the cinema stayed open under the council.”

Today, more than 90 volunteers keep the projector running, manage the bar, and handle ticketing. Adrian says the council does not charge the cinema for using the historic spaces because it is “providing a council facility that is no longer being provided by the council”.

As part of its varied programme, the cinema offers monthly Babe in Arms screenings for new parents and dementia-friendly shows that welcome audiences of all ages. It also provides the unique offering of star-studded celebrity Q&As, which give sold-out audiences the chance to interact with the people behind the screens.

According to the cinema’s publicity manager, Lauren Furey, the Q&As come about as a result of the cinema’s BAFTA award-winning patron, Joanna Scanlan. She said: “Her influence in helping to get some of these people into the cinema has been immeasurable. She has been friends with Tilda Swinton since college, and she has really been able to open this door to a behind-the-scenes world of cinema that so many cinema-goers would never have the opportunity to see, let alone for the prices we charge.”

Community links remain central to the cinema’s mission. A partnership with the BRIT School, launched in 2017, has seen over 30 student short films screened at the David Lean, and the cinema plans to showcase even more during next month’s Clocktower Takeover.

“There have definitely been a lot of times where I have looked around in the cinema and seen many people I recognised and would say hello to,” Adrian adds. “It’s a community for many people.”

Looking to the future

After more than a decade, which saw its rebirth and a temporary closure due to COVID, the cinema has now launched its 2025–27 strategy, aiming to take the venue to the next level. Lauren explains: “We will always be the David Lean cinema, but we want to have a cemented reputation within the community.”

She added: “One of the things I get really tired of hearing is ‘oh yes the David Lean Cinema…where is that?’ The Clocktower is one of the most iconic buildings in town, and it is easy to get to, so we kind of want everybody to be in no doubt about where we are. There is this world of cinema open to you where you can hear and meet the stars.”

The cinema has also garnered acclaim from well beyond Croydon. Time Out has previously named it one of the best cinemas in London, and it has recently been nominated for Cinema of the Year in the inaugural British Independent Film Awards. Voting for this has now closed, with a shortlist announcement expected in November.

With its turbulent history now behind it but never forgotten, the cinema is firmly focused on the future. From screenings of bold contemporary films like Kneecap , which Lauren said attracted “a very young crowd”, to its growing critical acclaim, the cinema is clearly poised for exciting developments.

Above all, the cinema aims to remain a cornerstone of Croydon’s creative community for years to come. “You can always be sure of getting something special at the David Lean,” Adrian added.

See the cinema’s film schedule and find out more on the David Lean Cinema website.