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Bromley Picturehouse:
A review
by LAURETTA WRIGHT
We all have fond memories of going to the pictures don’t we? A treat for birthdays or going out on play-dates. I still recall to this day the walk to the screen along dimly-lit, labyrinthine corridors and then being ushered to a seat in the dark, apologising whilst walking in front of already seated audience members, trying to avoid treading on toes, all to a chorus of tuts. The cinemas of my youth started to fade and often were pretty drab affairs with sticky floors and worn-out seats by the time I got into my teens. Not so my destination for today. Prior to its Picturehouse glow-up, the cinema at the Bromley North end of the High Street was a faded beauty as hinted at above. Blessed with elegant Art Deco lines, the cinema has now been lovingly restored and is quite the antidote to the faceless out-oftown alternatives.
First impressions As soon as myself and my husband (referred to here as VIP) stepped into the foyer, it was clear that this was a far more grown-up prospect. The signage and furniture in the lobby were mature and tasteful but not in a stuffy way. A glance at the films showing for that day was evidence of a pleasing mix of Hollywood and independent. This was to be more than a film though; we were going to be eating too! Having made our way to the spacious bar and restaurant area it was hard not to be impressed by the attention to detail that has been brought to bear in the refurbishment of the cinema; there are regular nods to the vintage of the building with original fixtures and fittings given starring roles and I was delighted to see beautiful Art Deco screens given pride of place, salvaged from the Bromley Co-op, built in the 1930s and on permanent loan from Bromley Civic Society.
Grub’s up! We were shown to our seats and received a warm welcome (I should point out here that staff didn’t know we were reviewing them!). After perusing the menus it was clear that the dining experience wasn’t going to present a plate of luke-warm nachos or sweaty pizzas. Rather this was the kind of menu that you would hope to expect on a night out; not necessarily followed by a movie. Chip lovers will
20 Life in... BROMLEY April 2022
be thrilled with everything from their entry-level Picture House chips which, I discovered later, were anything but, all the way through to Banging Korean Pork chips. If you are avoiding meat then Sweet potato, courgette and Halloumi chips are also options. Recognising that not everyone wants to have to make another hole in their belt when they go to see a film means that there are smaller plates (which includes a vegan option), but for those who had already resigned themselves to possibly removing the belt altogether, there is a mouthwatering array of large plate meals. I went for the Caesar Salad to which I added chicken and bacon, whilst VIP had the Picturehouse Burger with rosemary fries. I snaffled a couple of the latter (for research purposes only, you understand) and can confirm that they were super crunchy and delicious. What VIP was also impressed with was the drinks list; there were was a selection of five red and five white wines available, either by the glass or the bottle - this was complemented by a rose and three sparkling wines. VIP would find it hard, I knew, to resist the temptation of a beer with his meal and I know he was thrilled to find three draught beers as well as eight beers available either in can or bottle form.
The devil’s in the detail The surroundings were relaxed and included the obligatory nods to film on the walls as well as to one of Bromley’s most famous sons; David Bowie. On our table was a bottle advertising a quiz night for Bromley Picturehouse’s nominated charity, Refuge. This seems more than just a cinema – very much aligned with Life In Magazines’ values, it seemed much more like a community. Time was running out until our film started, so we made our way up to our screen, glass (that’s right glass) of drink in hand. This really was a more civilised cinema than the ones that I remembered. I knew we were going to enjoy this.
Your need-to-knows • To get even more value from your visit you can become a Bromley Picturehouse member for around £50 a year (£20 for students), which gets you free tickets, discounts on entry to films as well as food, drinks and snacks as well as access to previews and priority bookings. • Gift cards and e-gift vouchers are available making them an ideal gift. • For more information visit www.picturehouses.com/ cinema/bromley-picturehouse
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