Peckhamplex cinema is set to celebrate its 30th birthday on Monday, September 30.
The South East London cinema features six screens which show a wide variety of mainstream, independent, foreign language and arthouse titles. The venue, which attracts audiences from across London, is also widely known for its affordable tickets, charging customers just £5.99.
There were once eight cinemas in Peckham with the last traditional cinema, Odeon Peckham, being demolished in 1985. Nine years later, the Peckham Multiplex opened on the site of a former Sainsbury’s.
In 2004 it was bought by a new team, and then in 2010 the current team led by John Reiss bought and renamed it Peckhamplex.
John Reiss, Chairman of Peckhamplex, said: “I am thrilled to be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Peckhamplex alongside our thousands of customers and our wonderful team. We are especially pleased to be extending our charitable support of the community with the announcement of The Peckhamplex Student Scholarship Scheme”.
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In addition to the Student Scholarship Scheme, the cinema has offered financial support to many charities, including Peckham Soup Kitchen; Southwark Foodbank; Bermondsey’s Fisher Football Club; Anthony Nolan Trust; and Missing People.
Additionally, it has contributed to crowdfunding campaigns for Peckham Peculiar; Peckham Coal Line and Lido projects; London’s Forgotten, a short film about knife crime (as well as hosting a multi-disciplinary conference on the subject); the Peckham Festival; and the forthcoming SE London BookFest.
In 2016 Peckhamplex was awarded a Southwark Civic Award, the first time it was ever presented to an institution rather than an individual.
This year, Peckhamplex was voted by Time Out readers as London’s third best cinema, trailing just behind the Genesis Cinema in Whitechapel and the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton.
Local celebrities, including Olivia Colman and John Boyega, have previously spoken out in support of the venue for its affordable tickets, diverse selection of films and its role within the community.