By LULU LE VAY, SEPT 2017
Like the cinema but need a change from mainstream chains? Never fear. We’ve done the research for you. Here are our Top 5 independent cinemas to help you escape from the hum drum of daily life.
Roxy Bar and Screen Get away from the usual cinema environment at this laid back yet chic restaurant, bar and cinema in Borough. What a better way to relax than sink into a leather sofa with table service, while watching a selection of cult and modern films. Utter bliss. All films shown on a state-of-the-art digital screen for a unique audio-visual experience. Venue available for private screenings.
Whirled Cinema A short distance away from the hustle hipster bustle of Brixton’s centre, you will discover one of south London’s best kept secrets. The Whirled Cinema is hidden away in a railway arch in Loughborough Junction, and hosts a diverse programme of world and arthouse cinema. Pay for an annual membership and you can hang out there and soak up the cultural vibes as often as you like.
The LexiGet out of the West End and visit The Lexi cinema in Kensal Green, as we promise it’s worth the (ad)venture. As a social enterprise, the Lexi is not only a boutique digital cinema, but it’s also a charity. 100% of all profits go to charity, supporting The Sustainability Project, a leading living and educational centre in South Africa. If you become a member, they promise you’ll feel “a huge boost to self-esteem and warm fuzzy feelings of belonging”. What more could you ask for?
ArtHouse Don’t become confined to the usual areas, if you explore, you’ll be surprised at what you will discover. Enter the ArtHouse cinema in Crouch End, a renovated former Salvation Army hall. We like the venue’s ethos – they hope to attract a mixed audience through their programming, “where class, race, gender, sexuality and religion” can be discussed within a creative and liberated atmosphere. This is a unique cultural hub in North London, worth the visit.
