The Best Independent Cinemas in the North East
Locally-run cinemas need your support
Cinema at Gala
Tickets are always just £5 here, with the latest blockbusters available to watch across two screens in Durham’s arts and theatre venue. The Gala Lounge serves tasty food and drink to enjoy before or after your film and art-lovers will want to see the upcoming on-screen exhibitions from Michelangelo and Musée d’Orsay.
Millenium Place, Durham DH1 1WA
galadurham.co.uk
Forum Cinema
First opened in 1937, Forum Cinema is a key part of Hexham’s history. The building has retained its Art-Deco features, yet has been refurbished to create a warm and welcoming environment that’s a world away from larger corporate cinemas. On the first week of every month, the cinema hosts a film club with a post-screening discussion in the cinema’s café bar. Don’t miss Tyne Valley Film Festival screenings including Hexham Heads on 15th March (based on a series of paranormal events that took place in the early ‘70s in Hexham), and the UK premiere of The Courageous on 26th March.
8–9 Market Place, Hexham NE46 1XF
forumhexham.com
Fuse Cinema
Launched in 2014, Fuse Cinema in Prudhoe screens films on two or three Saturdays per month. With an auditorium seating 100, and a cinema shop selling popcorn, sweets and ice cream, the venue has everything you need for the best viewing experience. Screened films are exciting new releases, but the team also try to accommodate private screenings for those wanting to hire out the whole cinema and show a film of their choice.
Moor Road, Prudhoe NE42 5LJ
fusecinema.co.uk
ARC Stockton Arts Centre
Teesside’s only independent cinema, ARC screens a fantastic selection of recent releases, cult classics, National Theatre Live productions and music documentaries – there really is something for everyone. It’s also a charity, striving to use arts and culture to support and engage local communities through a range of classes and activities held in the building.
Dovecot Street, Stockton TS18 1LL
arconline.co.uk
Jam Jar Cinema
An inclusive and diverse cinema on the coast, Whitley Bay’s Jam Jar Cinema focuses on excellent customer service and accessibility for all. It was England’s first ‘Pay as you Please’ cinema, operating based on a tier system where the customer chooses which bracket they fit. There’s also a membership scheme for year-round discounted tickets, plus other great perks. With three screens and two bars, Jam Jar is a place to truly unwind amongst fellow film fanatics.
16–24 Park Avenue, Whitley Bay NE26 1DG
jamjarcinema.com
The Customs House
This South Tyneside gem is situated on the south bank of the River Tyne, with a great programme of big-name films and smaller independents. The auditorium seats 145, though the building also houses a 439-seat theatre, gallery spaces, restaurant and dining room and a riverside bar, and has been operating for more than 30 years.
Mill Dam, South Shields NE33 1ES
customshouse.co.uk
Star & Shadow Cinema
Completely volunteer-run, Star & Shadow is as independent as cinemas come. The building is totally dedicated to grass-roots culture, housing an 80-seater cinema, 200-capacity music venue, café, library, dark room, print room, workshop and online radio station. The cinema programming is completely open – anyone can volunteer to run a film screening, as long as you’re willing to help.
Warwick Street, Newcastle NE2 1BB
starandshadow.org.uk
Eatflix
Newcastle’s newest cinematic venture has arrived! A 5D cinematic experience like no other, at Eatflix you can eat the food from your favourite films, via a well-timed tasting menu of cocktails and delicious dishes that correspond to the scene on the screen. The venue (a former dance hall) has been totally renovated with film memorabilia to spot throughout. An utterly unique experience, the first film on their roster was Ratatouille, bringing the French flavours of the film to life.
269 Chillingham Road, Newcastle NE6 5LL
eatflixcinema.com
Tyneside Cinema
An Art-Deco gem in the heart of Newcastle, Tyneside Cinema is a registered charity and the region’s leading indie cinema. Showing the best films from the UK and beyond, you can catch some real classics here which are not available to watch in bigger cinemas. The on-site bar café and Vicolo restaurant serves delicious food and drink, and there’s even a regular film quiz, with cinema tickets as the top prize. Look out for regular film seasons too, currently including David Lynch: Dreamweaver which will screen all of the visionary late director’s films until April.
10 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle NE1 6QG
tynesidecinema.co.uk
Alnwick Playhouse
Highlighting independent arthouse films, international cinema and classic re-releases as well as big blockbusters, Alnwick Playhouse shows a bit of everything. The Playhouse itself dates back to 1925, originally opening as a 700-seater cinema, and has operated as an arts and culture centre since the 1990s.
Bondgate Without, Alnwick NE66 1PQ
alnwickplayhouse.co.uk
POP Flix Community Cinema
Based in Sunderland, this pop-up community cinema has a strong focus on screening cult classics and music films. Non-profit and volunteer-run, POP Flix was set up at café and music venue Pop Recs after the closure of Empire left Sunderland city centre without a big screen.
172–175 High Street West, Sunderland SR1 1UP
popflix.co.uk
