Iconic arthouse cinema chain Curzon snapped up by US private equity giant Fortress

Curzon, the esteemed arthouse cinema chain, has been taken over by Fortress, the US private equity heavyweight.

The group already houses brands such as Majestic Wine, Poundstretcher, and the Punch pub outfit under its expansive umbrella. Fortress sealed the deal for Curzon for an undisclosed figure, a move that promises to stabilise the future of Curzon's 16 locations, its film distribution arm, online streaming platform, and safeguards over 350 jobs.

This follows the company seeking new ownership earlier in the year, having been under American property tycoon Charles Cohen since 2019. Fortress had previously extended a multi-million dollar loan to Cohen but ended up filing a lawsuit against him for failing to keep up with payments—this action resulted in Fortress being the sole contender at Curzon's foreclosure auction.

Founded back in 1934, Curzon is applauded as one of the United Kingdom's premier arthouse icons, renowned for bringing some of the earliest foreign language films to British shores. While boasting multiple venues around London, their empire extends to cities like Oxford and Canterbury too.

Allison Swayze, managing director at Fortress, said: "Curzon is an iconic film company, with global recognition for its long legacy of releasing and connecting independent and critically acclaimed films to UK audiences. We’re pleased to acquire Curzon, and bring our support to the company’s dedicated team.

"Curzon has exciting near-term plans which include expanding its cinema footprint, and delivering awards and release plans for an exciting slate of films. Our acquisition secures the jobs of more than 350 employees, and helps Curzon continue to offer film fans a range of independent and blockbuster movies both in cinema and at home."