In 2023, Cineworld entered lease renegotiations with its landlords to write off arrears and reduce its rental payments. As part of those arrangements, Cineworld gave undertakings to various landlords in side letters that it would not seek further amendments to its leases in the event there was a further restructuring plan.

Cineworld’s financial position significantly deteriorated, and it proposed another restructuring plan under Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006. This would reduce the rents payable under various leases, including those where Cineworld had given undertakings that it would not seek any further compromise of the rents.

Prior to the final sanction hearing of the restructuring plans, two landlords, the Crown Estate and UKCP, applied for injunctions to enforce the terms of the undertakings given by Cineworld not to seek further lease amendments.