Campaigners calling for a historic cinema not to sell land earmarked for a second screen claim they have been ignored.
The Phoenix in East Finchley, which was built in 1910, had hoped to expand and open a second screen after a small piece of neighbouring land 40 years ago.
But the Ham&High reported earlier this year that the Phoenix Cinema Trust, which runs the venue, decided expansion would not be a viable option and has instructed estate agent Martyn Gerrard to sell the plot.
Three members of the Phoenix Community Group say the concerns raised by more than 350 petitioners hoping to stop the “quick sale” of the land were ignored.
The group said it held a meeting in April with around 15 to 20 people to “create a small and friendly and neutral environment” so that members could have an open discussion with trustees.
Members Stephen, Rachael and Ruth explained: “Trustees accepted our invite but proceeded to demand they control the meeting agenda and chair this meeting, which we had arranged.
“We had wanted to have an independent chair in order to have a constructive and meaningful conversation with trustees."
The trust says it has planning permission for a second screen in the main building's former cafe area, but the Phoenix Community Group argue this might lead to losses.
They added: “We were interested to understand their business plan, if they have accounted for all the lost revenues from hired events and food and drink when there is no service yard and no circulation space on the first floor.”
Despite the group claiming it tried to be accommodating to the trustees, none had attended.
They claim this is because trustees would not agree to an independent chair.
The trust previously explained why it felt a smaller second screen in the main building was a better idea.
In an email, it explained that if the Phoenix built a second screen on the land, it would need a second ‘front of house’ and the extra staffing costs would cancel out any extra revenue.
The trust believes plans to continue on the outside land are not “well thought through” and argue that it is “impossible to believe” a proposed 15-seat second screen could cover the lost revenue.
Alison Gold, the chair of the trust, said: “Having considered the ideas that they put forward as alternatives back in February and March, we do not agree that they are better for the Phoenix.
“The land sale is ongoing and we have contacted our 20,000-strong customer list and published quite a lot of information for any customers who are interested on the Phoenix website.”
She added : “We have received many messages of support for our plans and we do not believe that opposition to them is widespread in the local community.
“Our role as trustees is to act in the best interests of the Phoenix and we consider that our current plans fulfil this.
“We offered to meet the campaigners but they insisted on arrangements for the meeting that we could not agree to, so this did not happen.
“The Phoenix also offered to talk to one of them about what would happen to her stained glass window with the planned redevelopment, but she turned this down.”
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