UK: British Actor Tamer Hassan has joined the ownership team of Karma Sanctum Soho, a luxury hotel in London, alongside co-owners Mark and Sherene Fuller.
Hassan, known for his roles in films including The Football Factory, Layer Cake, The Business and more, joined the ownership team at Karma Sanctum Soho in 2024.
Alongside the Fuller’s, the trio have launched a membership for the creative industries, specifically the independent film sector.
The membership offers free access to the hotel’s screening room, installed with a Monitor Audio, THX Certified Ultra system, which can be used for rehearsals and casting calls.
Membership also includes a complimentary co-workspace, discounts on the hotel’s room rates, food and drink, and more. It costs £375 annually, approximately £32 a month.
“The independent film industry is on its knees,” said Hassan. “Many of my peers can’t finish productions because of a lack of support. Funding has been cut and costs have risen exponentially. Something has to give, or we’re going to see an end to all of these beloved British indie films.”
Plans are also in place for a film festival, coming to the hotel in May 2025, to honour the best of British independent cinema. A series of events will include a spotlight on the female filmmakers shaping British cinema, film and documentary screenings, actor and director Q&As, and panel talks with leading industry experts.
Mr Fuller said: “The creative industries are struggling. Members clubs have lost their way and are overcharging because of their own rising costs. It’s time to press reset. We run a successful hotel business that makes it possible for us to launch an affordable membership exclusively for the creative community. It’s accessible, at a time when everyone else is putting the prices up. Let’s create a future for us all and bring Soho back to the maverick cultural centre it once was.”
In 2021, Karma Sanctum Soho completed a renovation and launched the Wild Heart Shokudo restaurant with chef Garry Hollihead.
