Working on Seen in the City I'm always finding out the coolest new places in London- these are the top cinemas I couldn't keep quiet about...
Forget the cinema days of dusty fold-away red chairs, flat pepsi, stale popcorn and stained carpets, for there are some far more exciting cinema experiences to be had that are a world away from your local Odeon. No longer does the experience start and end from the trailers to the credits, but from the moment you first walk through the venue doors.
Here are our picks of some of the most unique and fun cinemas to experience in London this summer...
Hot Tub Cinema
Is this not the dream? While away your evening in a hot tub filled with six of your favourite friends on a rooftop in London, watch the sun set behind you and your favourite film on the big screen in front. Oh and did we mention your tub comes with two waiters to service your every whim? (Within reason.) Since its conception in 2012 Hot Tub Cinema has grown in popularity year on year and it's advised you purchase your tickets in advance! Sign up and buy your tickets here...
Luna open air cinema
In summer, whilst there may be a film you really want to see, it can be hard to drag yourself away from the warm evening and the allure of cocktails to the stuffy clutches of your local cinema. But this is where Luna open-air cinema comes in. With a whole array of locations around the UK, you can bring a blanket and bask under the setting sun, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand and snuggle down to watch your favourite movie. With the scents of BBQ's and cut grass in the air and your friends all around, what could be a better way to pass a summer evening? See the films on offer and buy your ticketshere...
Edible Cinema
As the name suggest, this cinema experience involves food - and no we're not talking overpriced Nachos and a mix of Sweet & Salted popcorn. At each Edible Cinema screening all audience members will find a tray of small numbered containers on their allocated seats, each of which holds a canape-sized serving or a mini cocktail. Throughout the film, food matched moments are signalled by a screen-side light box illuminating the package number which should be consumed. The menu focuses very much on environment, words and feelings as opposed to literal food interpretations. For example, a scene in Pan's Labyrinth where characters ran through a pine forest was matched with Pine Smoked Popcorn, giving pine aroma and flavour while also delivering the 'crunch' of feet on the needle laden forest floor. This really is a cinema experience unlike any other and well worth a try. Buy your tickets and find more information here...
Electric Cinema (for ultimate comfort)
One of London's oldest cinemas, Portabello's Electric Cinema goes a whole level further than tardy fold-up seats... by offering beds! Filled with rows of luxurious double beds and leather armchairs with footstools you can snuggle up and watch the film as if you were in the comfort of your own home. Buy tickets and find out more information here...
Rooftop film club
London is known for it's beautiful rooftop views and Rooftop Film Club have taken advantage of that, brining their screen to the London skies, giving you the chance to watch classic and recent film nestled among the roofs of the city. You can enjoy an array of delicious food and drinks whilst watching films from deckchairs and ponchos and blankets are handed out free of charge if its chilly or starts to rain. The perfect date venue to snuggle up under the stars or to hang out with friends. Buy tickets and see more information here...
Secret Cinema
As the name suggests, we can't reveal too much about the Secret Cinema, but what you do need to know, is that it's a secret worth finding out about. As the company advertise it's a "Secret audience. Secret film. Secret locations. Secret worlds." But beyond this, it is a truly immersive experience. You must dress up as the characters or the era of the film and get to interact with, have food and drinks and mingle with other spectators (and the actors) in the world of the film, before you sit down to enjoy the picture. Venues change all the time, chosen to reflect somewhere which will accentuate the movie you're going to watch. Buy your tickets and find out more information here...
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