Forum Topic

Chiswick Cinema

I knew this would happen and told people it was a crazy idea as every time  I've visited you walk past the bar for founder members and you will be lucky to see more than 4 people in it. Well, when I have visited anyway. And the chance of getting a founder membership i believe was a long waiting list. Now they have opened the bar to everyone, which is good news for all rather than sitting in the main entrance lobby which is a little like sitting in a staff canteen Im guessing people will not be taking out founder membership now ? http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=info&page=rambertcinema040.htm

Julian Pavey ● 750d47 Comments

The annual membership at the Chiswick Cinema looks like a good deal if you are a regular cinema goer and live nearby. It doesn't work for me because, although I try to go to the cinema every week, I am often meeting up with friends from other parts of town and so we would often go to the West End. The offer does explain why the clientele on the High Road cinema seems to be the same group of people every time you go.

Felicity Caborn ● 18d

Because I go to the cinema a lot I have membership at both Acton and Chiswick cinemas. Chiswick is clearly the commercial run cinema with several screens but with unlimited tickets membership including all the special film seasons (Attenborough, Reisz, Pinter, Ivory/Merchant etc.) and NT/Met and ROH performances they show, it is the place to go for most big and popular releases.Acton is definitely the community cinema with a nice utilitarian lounge area anyone can use plus coffee and drinks bar and ticket prices aimed at getting people into the cinema. I personally prefer Acton on balance simply because it has the more adventurous programming with many one off showings often with Q&A of otherwise hard to see new films, alongside more popular releases. On its more spartan budget Acton has managed a level of luxury in seating and size of its two screens that appeals to me.Given that not so long ago we had no cinemas in either area I believe that we are blessed to have two such complementary cinemas now.

Joe Conneely ● 19d

ActOne cinema in Acton is cheaper and worth a visit: Senior £11, younger £14, good membership deals.  Similar repertoire to Chiswick Cinema.  But I like Chiswick Cinema and it's handy to get to for me.

Lucy Chambers ● 20d

Tickets for an evening show (without concessions) at Brentford are £17.45 compared to £18.50 at Chiswick.If you go to the cinema a lot, Chiswick Cinema membership is the better deal with unlimited films for £450 a year while at Brentford, there is a membership providing 24 films for £350 a year.

Michael Robinson ● 22d

I agree with you, Felicity. The pricing is an issue and whilst it is comfortable, I think the seats at the new Ealing venue are better as are the seats at the Olympic in Barnes. The new Everyman cinema in Brentford  which is just about to open will be even more competition.

Stewart Jones ● 22d

Resurrect Watermans I say..

Anna Kirkpatrick ● 23d

I've been three times since this thread started and haven't really changed my opinion much. It is a lovely venue and even in an age where cinema seat comfort has improved massively, it offers an extra level of sumptuousness. The staff are great and it is well maintained.Price remains the main issue. One of the times I went was a special discounted showing and the other was when friends we were meeting up with insisted on going there. The only time I consciously chose to see a film there and paid full price was for the Brutalist which meant I got the full benefit of the seats and didn't actually pay that much per hour of entertainment.On none of these occasions was the venue full but neither was it quiet and, once again, I saw the same faces multiple times which gives the impression that it is being supported by a small number of people going a lot rather than a large number of people going occasionally. I will be back as I believe it should be supported but the prices mean I do have to visit other venues more often to maintain a more or less weekly habit of seeing films at cinemas.

Felicity Caborn ● 23d

Well, I use it a lot. They have a really good selection of films, there is almost always something I'd be interested to see, and comfortable seats. It's dead handy.They do all the NT and opera productions, which are superb, as well as all the big films.I never really got the point of membership though, as all I want is a comfy big screen, ideally without anyone is the seat next to me eating smelly popcorn.I don't get the idea of going for a drink at the cinema, or having a terrace overlooking the high road, as that has nothing to do with watching a film.

Michael Laird ● 26d

What an interesting old thread this was 12 months ago.A wide range of opinions and contributors ... and a thread not dominated by one person.What are the up-to-date opinions about the Chiswick Cinema ... especially for non members?

Jim Lawes ● 27d

I went past there yesterday and there still seems to be a lot of work to do.Perhaps the best way to judge the health of Chiswick Cinema is to keep an eye on the living wall. The former Eco Age store on the High Road was doomed when that started to wilt. They are apparently quite expensive to maintain.

Felicity Caborn ● 736d

As I understand it is going to be somewhere in that new complex near the town hall.

Liz de Keyser ● 736d

Is the Curzon going to be at the site of the old Cineworld beside Hammersmith town hall?  There was meant to be a smaller cinema as part of the redevelopment of this location, although it doesn't look like it is near completion at the moment.

Michael Robinson ● 736d

There is a Curzon opening in Hammersmith - I'm not entirely sure when but fairly soon.  It is wonderful that we now have this local cinema but Chiswick Cinema needs to get its act together to persuade & entice the locals to frequent it.  Starting I would hope by removing the booking fee which is just annoying, petty and irritates.

Liz de Keyser ● 736d

Is there Platinum membership?

Basil Finnis ● 738d

We're off to Chiswick Cinema next week actually to see the 25th anniversary of 'The Big Lebowski' and then the following week to see the new Royal Ballet 'Cinderella'. We're Gold Members (not a reference to Austin Powers) and will be taking full advantage of the previously private bar!

Chris Blackwell ● 739d

Was the Chiswick Cinema originally part of Picturehouse?  I thought that initially we were told that Picturehouse was coming to Chiswick. But when I checked it isn't.  Did something happen along the way that made it an independent instead of part of a chain?  It may be in the annals of history but I don't recollect.

Claire Moran ● 739d

Sometimes its better to sell cheaper to sell more thus increasing your profit even if a small increase in revenue and other payments for drink and food naturally increase. More and more pubs are doing drink deals and even apps that give you discounted drinks and in some cases a free drink of the day at pubs signed up to varied promotions. All about getting numbers in the door these days. But you have to look online for these deals. Obviuosly we have the Chiswick C card but many other offers are available on varied apps from your app store

Julian Pavey ● 740d

Haven't been to the Chiswick Cinema as the high prices put me off. I love Watermans - friendly staff, cosy atmosphere and a great programme, and also Act One cinema for the same reasons. The prices at both are affordable and it is good to support them.

Sasha Corcashvili ● 740d

I always find the sound system at Chiswick rather “in-your-face”. Seeing films such as Summer of Soul or Tar at ActOne was a treat for the ears because the sound there is so well set up.

Norman Redfern ● 743d

No they were on the balcony and were so-called 'leaners' i.e. no seat. It was a truly breathtaking evening.

Anita Blake ● 743d

Exactly what I was thinking, and those wooden bits are useless as a table. No way I'd dare to balance a drink on it with the risk it's going to get knocked off by me or the person next to me.What I'd really like to see is Screen 2 turned into an Electric Cinema style screen with comfy chairs and proper useable tables.Not only would The Chiswick Cinema be able to charge a premium price for those seats, they'd also make more from drink and food sales. As when we go the Electric Cinema we normally get a bottle of wine and some bits to eat while we watch the film.

Steve Townsend ● 743d

Robert, I very much appreciate your using the correct word for a condition that I suffer from.  It’s not ‘vertigo’ as so many people believe.Alastair (currently in a hotel room on the 12th floor with a great view (fine) but a balcony that I daren’t enter!)

Alastair Banton ● 744d

Amphitheatre. Not for acrophobics.

Robert Fish ● 744d

Crikey, a ticket for less than £18.00 at the RoH?  Sound only?

Claire Moran ● 744d

I don't find the seats at the Chiswick at all comfortable. Having those wretched wooden bits on one arm really puts me off.

Susan Kelly ● 744d

I'm going to the ROH tonight to see Turandot. It would have cost me more to see the simultaneous live broadcast at Chiswick Cinema.

Anita Blake ● 744d

Chiswick Cinema proces are fine if you factor in convenience, location, locality, sound system, picture quality, comfort of seats and lack of idiots rustling crisp packets and eating hot dogs. I also love the ballet screenings from the Royal Opera House, truly fabulous experience.I love it. Best cinema experience for me (IMHO) is still Olympic in Barnes but Chiswick Cinema is a very close second.

Chris Blackwell ● 744d

Watermans is just £6 from Monday to Wednesday until the end of this month so a third of the price. For people on a budget there is no question where to go.

Diane Brown ● 744d

Riverside Studios.For example;Everything Ever Where All at Once showing on Monday 20.10 hoursSix pounds Fifty pence!

Adrian Irving ● 744d

I really like Chiswick Cinema and the location is great.  But there is no denying the tickets prices are very high £18.50 for adults and £14 for kids with a booking fee on top.  Peak prices at Watermans, the Ealing project and Vue are about £10 (£14 for VIP seats at Vue).  I guess the overhead is high rent, but almost double the price tickets, that seems a lot.

Kieran Fox ● 744d

I'm surprised you saw 40 minutes of adverts at the Ealing Project, Keith. I've been several times and it's been the normal 10-15 minutes. It's also the cheapest cinema in the area and the seats are a lot more comfortable than at Waterman's.

Susan Kelly ● 744d

Felicity, your first paragraph sums up in a far better way of what I was trying to say in my first post.

Adrian Irving ● 744d

Your experience is not unusual. Everyone locally wants this cinema to thrive because we waited so long of it but it needs to move away from the elitist approach they have adopted so far. It risks becoming a private club for a small group of people who will never spend enough to cover the costs of running the place.To me they have two choices. Either they start trying to compete on price by dramatically cutting entry charges or they adopt a model more like a gym in which paying a monthly or annual fee gets you unlimited entry i.e. expand the existing membership offer. You could mollify the existing Founder Members by reserving a proportion of tickets for each performance for them up until the day of the show. Cheaper memberships could be offered to those just wanting to go during the day or earlier in the week. Non-members would still be able to buy a ticket at the high price for general admission.Either option would fill the place up and boost revenue from their very strong food and beverage offer.

Felicity Caborn ● 744d

I agree re the pricing of tickets. I didn’t take the founder membership as it wasn’t really clear what you were getting for it. I took out gold membership before the cinema opened and once it did open realised there was very little value. You got a few free tickets but if you were looking to use one of your tickets for yourself and then use the discount to book an additional ticket for a friend you weren’t able to. It was one of the other. I didn’t renew the membership but did still support the cinema with regular visits but now that they have increased the price to £18.50 I haven’t been back. I’m a huge fan of cinema and film and want to absolutely support local businesses but I don’t want to be ripped off. If cinema is to compete with streaming services then they need to offer something more superior. I don’t feel the size of the screens or the quality of the audio justifies the price of the ticket. I chose to watch The Whale at home last weekend for £15.99 on Prime video on a decent tv with good quality screen and audio. Chiswick Cinema really need to get their proposition right before it becomes a white elephant! I’ve never been to a screening that has been full.

Perveen Akhtar ● 747d

As an avid cinema goer I thought the idea of being a founder member sounded attractive.  When I saw how expensive it was for so little benefit I thought it was mad and decided it wasn't worth it imho unless you (a) visit many times a month (b) really like to see your name carved in stone.  I'll wait for my gravestone for that, thank you.

Claire Moran ● 747d

Like plenty of cinemas the films at the Chiswick Cinema start some 10-20 mins after the programme time.The staff (who are all lovely btw) can tell you the start times of the films.Not that I consider a hot dog the highlight of entertainment cuisine, but the hot dog we shared a week or two ago was in a totally different league and cooked from scratch, and I imagine that if they can take a hot dog to another plane, the other food they do in the cafe is likely to be good as well.The quality of the food means you can't expect the food to appear anywhere remotely as quickly as in a Vue.

Andrew Jones ● 749d

I don't know what the score is with nthe Chiswick cinema, but I went to the new one in Ealing a few months ago tom see the Bowie doc.and there were adverts on for 40 minutes before the film started which was 40 mins after the advertised time.I will probably stick to the old fashioned seats in Waterman's,where the films start on time,give or thake 5 mins.

Keith Iddon ● 749d

The electric is £25 for an armchair as opposed just a regular (if comfortable) seat at Chiswick. Plus there is no booking fee so the actual cost for Chiswick is over £20. This isn't a different price bracket.As far as I can tell the founder memberships went to three sorts of people - the local 'great and the good' who got them for nothing, people who enjoyed the cache of exclusivity and were willing to pay for it and regular film goers who recognised that it was a good deal. The latter group won't care about the loss of the founder members bar and remain delighted with the cinema. Among those I've spoken to there does seem to be a consensus that the venue gets very few walk-ins and a good proportion of the audience on a typical evening is made up of lots of familiar faces who presumably haven't paid for the ticket. I don't get the impression that the existing founder member base would object too much if the scheme was significantly expanded if the cinema's survival depended on it.

Felicity Caborn ● 749d

Top price seats in the Electric White City are £25 so it is a different price bracket from Chiswick Cinema.  The Electric is part of Soho House group so the membership arrangements aren't directly comparable either.The Electric is very nice but I viewed it as a 'special occasion' cinema.  I wouldn't go there to see some popcorn B-movie.Olympic in Barnes also has generally better facilities for members but the £500 there just gives 10% discount on tickets compared to free for founders members at Chiswick Cinema.  So Chiswick Cinema better if you plan to watch a lot of films.

Michael Robinson ● 749d

I have never been to Chiswick Cinema as I was completely turned off by the "class" segregation approach.I am a big fan of Riverside Studios which show the latest and classic films along with so much more on top.Food is a little pricy and somewhat limited but made up for by a brilliant location next to Hammersmith Bridge and only a stones. throw from lovely riverside pubs if that's more your bag food wise.

Adrian Irving ● 749d

We have been founder mebers since the beginning and to be honest I'm really disappointed with the Chiswick Cinema. It's essentially just above a Vue and yet we were sold it as being an exclusive cinema. The Electric is without question, the best cinema and experience I've been to and this is what Chiswick Cinema should have aspired to.

David Powers ● 749d

I always thought that the the idea of an exclusive bar for founder members was a surprising mistake.  I thought it never likely that there would be sufficient demand for it to be viable and, of course, its existence would have pushed up the fees for founder membership.  And, yes,  this bar always looked a bit forlorn and deserted when I’ve visited the cinema.  The front page article seems to be hinting that Founder members will be compensated with booze and other offers.A very welcome change in my view.  In York, where I lived for a while, the City Screen cinema had a bar/cafeteria that was open to all and that always seemed to be thriving.

Alastair Banton ● 750d

ActOne Is brilliant. We go for coffee and meetings there and odd glass of wine afterwards.Highly recommended and price’s good as well.Up to date movies.

John Kennedy ● 750d

May I just add that the bar and lounge area at ActOne are really lovely and welcoming, open to all, even if you aren't watching a film.  Wines are supplied by Vindinista, so great quality.  And with 2 screens now, it is offering a good selection of films.  In fact, I am off to see the NT Live screening of Othello tonight.  And please forgive me - I am a founder member of ActOne so declaring my interest right away.

Anne Brown ● 750d

The people who stumped up for founder membership may be a bit miffed because the private bar was a key membership and it was a cheaper way to have access to an exclusive area on the High Road. However, many genuinely wanted to support the cinema and weren't that interested in the perk. That could explain why it was nearly always empty.The broader problem is that going to the cinema is a discretionary spending item and times are hard with even the relatively well off having to consider budgeting. It is possible to get into Leicester Square cinemas for £5 during the week and it is hard for the Chiswick Cinema to justify such a big premium over other local cinemas that are discounting such as ActOne, Watermans and the Ealing Project. For people who want to pay a bit extra, the Olympic and the Electric offer a better experience.My view is that they should cut prices and broaden their appeal. The programme suggests they are on the road to doing that. Showing today is Scream VI, Creed III and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish which I'm sure are all marvelous but not the sort of titles people generally want to spend £18.50 to see.

Felicity Caborn ● 750d

Totally agreeBut I personally and I do talk from my view which is that many founder members like that private club exclusivity and where they can invite friends for a private drink scenario.Bit like high road house but thatHas now been taken away and is now open to all,which I agree is a good idea

Julian Pavey ● 750d

Maybe some people will be deterred from taking out founder membership but I doubt this wd be the killer blow. There are plenty of other benefits still for founders. I’m a founder member and actually suggested some time ago that the bar should be made available to all. The cinema needs revenue to survive and I’d rather walk into a buzzy, lively bar than the rather sad space it was becoming when it was restricted to founder members.

Marie Power ● 750d