SE23 Forum

I am surprised by the lack of cinemas near Forest Hill. How does one enjoy going catch the odd film in the area?

I don't have a car........

Take a short ride on the Overground to Surrey Quays.

And support the campaign to bring a cinema to Crystal Palace: http://www.campaign.picture-palace.org/

Just jump on the P4 to Brixton and visit the Ritzy. Easy....

Thanks, I thought Surrey Quays would be the nearest one to us.
Have signed the petition as well

I find Beckenham Odeon to be a nicer environment than Surrey Quays, and if you're driving, its not far at all!

I know you said you don't have a car but if you can get there, Greenwich Picturehouse wins hands down everytime, a far superior option to The Ritzy which is very tired, cramped and always too busy.

Another vote for the Greenwich Picturehouse here. Train to New Cross Gate and bus or bus from Catford. Great bar upstairs and a crowd that really appreciates the film.

poolsneighbour, is it easy to park (free?) near the Beckenham Odeon?

There is a car park at Beckenham Odeon but it has the smallest spaces and lanes I've ever seen. There are other car parks there and parking in nearby streets.

OK, thanks. What is it with people creating these tiny parking slots? I know they're trying to maximise space, but if you can't even get out of your car you won't see the film!

I once tried to park in the car park at the Beckenham Odeon - as soon as I drove in, I could see I wasn't going to get into the spaces. Even driving around to drive out again proved difficult as there was barely room to turn around the ends of the lanes.

There is a 24 hour multi-storey carpark in Village Way, just a few minutes walk from the cinema. It's not free, but pretty cheap - about 40p an hour. I love the cinema in Beckenham, it feels like a proper local cinema, and I'm happy for my kids (young to mid-teens) to go by themselves as there is never any trouble.

if I ever go to the cinema i(which is rare sadly) it's the Clapham Picturehouse - nice little cinema bit of a trek but my friend lives in Clapham South so we eat out afterwards

We always go to Beckenham, its a really nice cinema with comfy seats and good sound and picture quality

I've heard that a picture house cinema could be coming to West Norwood and will be right near the train station!

http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/...th_cinema/

Greenwich Picture House - great seating, bar and an audience who want to see the film. I tried Beckenham but the last time I went to there was an absolute nightmare - it was dirty and members of the audience were abused randomly by a pair of ladies and their delightful offspring. Within about 15 minutes they had cleared an exclusion zone around them. Seems like they were known to the staff who did nothing. I would never go there again.
You can become a member at the GPH which entitles you to discounts not only for the seats but in the cinema bar, local and national businesses. You can book online, choose your seats and the fee is waived. You would need only to go about ten times in the year to get your membership fee back in the savings you could make. It's a real pleasure to go there. I would recommend it most highly.

you could try the train from FH or HOP to Streatham Hill (the train that goes to Victoria), then short stroll to Streatham Odeon. On your way to the cinema, pick up some treats from the fantastic italian deli just by the station!

p.s. I'm not particularly ancient - in my 40's - but I can remember when there was a cinema in
- Forest Hill
- Sydenham
- Catford
- Lewisham (x3 - the Odeon plus the dodgy 'Studio 6 & 7')

Ah, they were the days!

pps, I have often thought it would be great (and quite easy to do) if The Capitol put a big screen behind the bar and held the occasional movie night there. Good film and a cheap beer - perfect!

Capitol still has the old screen upstairs, i have heard there was a tour of where the cinema used to be. Not sure if they still do that.

A bit out there, but I have on occassion gon to Rich Mix across from Shoreditch station up on the East London Line. Well priced tickets and snacks and the kind of audience who don't make lots of noise.