Newcastle independent cinema ranked as one of the UK's best by TimeOut magazine
While much of the UK watch their films at big-name brands, Newcastle has a fantastic independent cinema scene, with one spot recently named as one of the nation’s best.
As part of a question about what makes a great cinema, TimeOut Magazine has scoured the UK and Ireland to find the best cinemas across the nations.
One spot will be very familiar to most of us on Tyneside.
While big name options like the Odeon at Leicester Square and the South Bank Centre in London were listed among the best names, Newcastle’s Tyneside Cinema was also placed highly.
The site, which sits on High Friar Lane just off PIlgrim Street, ranked 12th across the UK and Ireland.
Speaking about the site, the listing describes the cinema as: “An Art Deco cinema turned thriving arts hub, this registered charity picturehouse programmes to reflect marginalised members of its North-East community.”
It continues: “Since inception, the cinema has encouraged debate as the home of the Tyneside Film Society during the 30s and the 1948 ‘Junior Film Club, experimental’( which ejected kid members who had nothing to say); today it has two free film clubs that meet on Thursdays at 2pm and 7pm.
“Step onto the recently-uncovered Persian-inspired mosaic box office floor and take in the detailed heritage displays before settling in the restored ‘Classic’ auditorium where newsreels used to run but arthouse faire now reigns.”
In addition to its films, the site is also home to the Vicolo cafe on the corner of PIlgrim Street and High Friar Lane and the Tyneside Bar Cafe on Pilgrim Street.