We all love the tingly feeling when the house lights go down, but at Secret Cinema, the magic starts long before you ever reach your seat. In fact, for those of us who have spent the last decade chasing coordinates to abandoned warehouses and secret locations across London, the “seat” is often the last thing on our minds. From the moment I donned my robes for Star Wars, or found myself swept up in the bohemian revolution of Moulin Rouge!, I have been a devoted disciple of this immersive revolution.
Now, it seems the nomadic days of our favourite cinematic subculture may be coming to an end—in the best possible way. Secret Cinema has officially set its sights on a permanent flagship home on the Greenwich Peninsula. For those of us who have braved the elements and the mystery of “where on earth are we going tonight?”, the prospect of a long-term base by the Thames is nothing short of a game-changer for the UK film scene.
Having attended some of their most iconic runs—most notably the sprawling Back to the FutureHill Valley build and the high-stakes glamour of the James BondCasino Royale event—I’ve seen firsthand how these productions have outgrown the temporary nature of pop-up culture. The ambition has always been gargantuan. I remember the sheer scale of the Star Warsevent, where the line between audience member and Rebel pilot became delightfully blurred. To think what the team could achieve with a ten-year residency is genuinely spine-tingling.
The proposed site on the Greenwich Peninsula, earmarked for development in the future but available for a decade-long stint, offers a stable canvas for the kind of world-building that Secret Cinema pioneered. Merritt Baer, the artistic director, has noted that Greenwich is the perfect location for their flagship home. I couldn’t agree more. There is something about the industrial, expansive skyline of the Peninsula that feels like it’s waiting to be transformed into a dystopian cityscape or a period-correct dreamscape.
For a film critic, the evolution of how we consume stories is paramount. We are moving beyond the passive experience of the multiplex. When I was at the James Bondevent, I wasn’t just watching 007; I was navigating a web of espionage, ducking into corners to exchange intel, and feeling the literal heat of the action. This move to Greenwich suggests a commitment to “lasting memories and epic experiences” that temporary installations sometimes struggle to sustain.
The local impact cannot be understated either. Working with local businesses and partners in Greenwich will ground these fantastical worlds in a real-world community. While the venue is still subject to planning permission, the energy surrounding the announcement is palpable. For fans like myself, who have followed the brand for eighteen years, this feels like a homecoming.
As we look toward the end of the year for a potential opening, one can only wonder which world they will choose to build first in their new home. Whether we are heading back to the future or off to a galaxy far, far away, one thing is certain: the Peninsula is about to become the most exciting cinema ticket in town. Expect to see me there, in costume, ready to lose myself in the stars once again.