Curzon Cinemas-owner Fortress screen-tests potential bidders

The owner of Curzon Cinemas is exploring a sale of the business following a number of unsolicited bid approaches.

Sky News has learnt that Fortress Investment Group, which bought the arthouse chain in 2024, is working with an advisor to orchestrate talks with prospective buyers.

The valuation being sought by Fortress was unclear on Monday.

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Curzon Cinemas trades from 16 cinemas in the UK, and also owns the distributor Curzon Film and the Curzon Home Cinema streaming service.

Industry sources said the process, which is being run by advisory firm Archmont, was at an early stage, with no outcome expected imminently.

Curzon's upcoming film slate, and partnerships with streaming services such as Netflix are said to be partly responsible for driving interest in the business

The company's distribution arm was responsible for the UK distribution of multiple Oscar-winner Parasite and Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

The group is run by Philip Knatchbull, an industry veteran.

A minnow in exhibitor terms, it is nevertheless a prominent name in the UK film industry.

Its Curzon Home Cinema streaming service was launched in 2010 and now has a reach of 6.5 million homes.

Next May, the company plans to open a new flagship cinema in Chelsea, south-west London.

Curzon says the site will be used as a platform to build on its expertise in hospitality to establish Curzon as a broader cultural and lifestyle brand.

A potential sale of the Curzon business comes as larger rival Vue also explores its strategic options, with a sale or stock market flotation on the cards, as Sky News revealed earlier this year.

It also comes at a busy time for Fortress itself, which is engaged in a process to sell Majestic Wines.

The firm also owns Poundstretcher, which has been exploring a bid for a number of stores operated by rival Poundland.

Curzon changed hands in 2024 after its then-owner, Cohen Media Group, was forced to offload assets by a New York state supreme court judge.

Fortress declined to comment.

(c) Sky News 2026: Curzon Cinemas-owner Fortress screen-tests potential bidders