The cinema and café will shut for a few weeks while the site is refitted with new equipment and upgraded ahead of a planned reopening in early September.
Bexley Council said a new operator has been lined up and will be announced soon.
Current memberships will still be valid once the venue reopens.
The refurbishment marks the start of a new chapter for the High Street venue, which has been running on a temporary licence since the collapse of its original operator, Really Local Group (RLG), earlier this year.
RLG, which opened the Sidcup cinema in June 2023 as part of a wider regeneration project, went into voluntary liquidation on January 7.
It followed the sudden closure of the company’s Catford Mews cinema in October and a public row with Lewisham Council over more than £600,000 in unpaid rent and service charges.
RLG blamed the council’s handling of the Catford Centre, while Lewisham accused the firm of poor financial management.
Despite the fallout, Bexley Council stepped in to keep the Sidcup site open, putting in place a temporary licence so screenings and events could continue while a new long-term operator was found.
A spokesperson for the cinema reassured customers at the time that they were “fully open and completely operational”.
Now, the council says the cinema is ready to enter a new phase, with the handover and refurbishment taking place at the same time.
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Shaping, Cllr Cafer Munur, said:
“We look forward to welcoming the new cinema operator to re-open this popular venue.
“This building, where our library service is co-located with the cinema and café, is one of which we are all rightly proud.
“It’s pivotal to the High Street in Sidcup and to our community’s enjoyment of the town.
“We faced a difficult position in January when the cinema’s operator experienced wider financial difficulties across its business.
“Since then, officers have worked tirelessly to ensure best value for the Borough but also best fit for the Storyteller.
“We are enormously grateful to the on-site staff for their continued support in continuing to deliver a great experience for film fans over the past few months as we make this transition.”
The cinema, café, and bar share space with Sidcup Library at 106 High Street in a modern multi-use venue that’s picked up a string of architecture and design awards, including the RIBA Pineapple Award and the LABC Building Excellence Award.
It’s also been named a finalist in the 2025 Civic Trust Awards, with judges praising the way it’s helped breathe new life into the area.
Sidcup Library will remain open as normal while the cinema side of the building is refitted.
Sidcup Partners BID, who have backed the venue since its launch, said they were pleased to support the new chapter and the transition to fresh management.
So while there’s a short break in screenings from the end of this month, locals can expect a revamped space and new faces behind the scenes when the curtain rises again in the autumn.
Details about the new operator and reopening plans are due to be announced in the coming weeks.
