Let it be known in no uncertain terms that I will never under any circumstances go anywhere near a multiplex cinema. I would rather trek to north London to a little gem known as the Phoenix Cinema. Built in 1910 and surviving two world wars, it’s believed to be the oldest purpose built cinema in [...]

Aside from The Everyman in Hampstead, I have never known comfort like this. Plush leather armchairs and footstools with cream coloured walls, red velvet-like recesses and golden trimmings and a bar where you can forget the usual packaged and processed fat food and expect Mediterranean snacks such as olives and crudités, stuffed quail eggs and [...]

What was once originally a brothel is now one of London’s longest standing cinema’s, with ornate paneled walls, heavily coffered ceiling of Edwardian plasterwork, red velvet chairs and double love seats that are comfortable enough to fall asleep in (I did once, to the Royal Tennenbaums, I hate Wes Andersen, what was I thinking?) There [...]

The Curzon specialises in independent films, including a lot of British and European ones and is perfectly located on the edge of Soho and Chinatown. It has a street level café selling cakes and cookies from my favourite bakery, Konditor & Cook and a dark relaxing lower ground floor café and bar with a number [...]

Certain experiences can severely taint a place for me (negative association) like suffering that claustrophobic pang when watching a film that sickens you but is hard to walk out of, in this case “The heart is deceitful above all things” an utterly depressing film directed by and starring Asia Argento about a junky degenerate mother [...]

It’s an ongoing dilemma for me where to sit in the cinema. I’m forever up against the tricky decision as to whether to sacrifice a good view of the screen for mental comfort by taking an aisle seat, reason being, as soon as I’m boxed in with a row of tightly packed viewers to either [...]

South of the river is really growing on me. I was never much of a fan of south London. I had decided there wasn’t much down there and it’s a hassle to get to anyway, that was before I discovered the likes of Gastro, Breads etc.. Rosie’s café and now The Clapham Picture House. Tucked [...]

I could not be more enthusiastic about this cinema. I consider myself an expert as I have pointedly been to every independent cinema in London and the Everyman Hampstead comes at the top of the list. For not much more than you would spend at a regular multiplex cinema you get your own chair, you [...]

Once you manage to negotiate your way from Brixton station through the tramps and junkies scrounging to pick up cigarette butts from under your feet, you’ll find yourself in a little haven. The Ritzy has a lovely cafe and bar and is the kind of cinema where you can have dinner or coffee before a [...]

The Coronet must be the most spectacular of all the old independent cinemas. The interior of cinema one, which is the original theatre, is decorated in a Louis XVI style with the auditorium still possessing the two original elliptically curved balconies. The ghost of a female cashier reputedly haunts the cinema. Legend has it that [...]