New Barbican Cinema Opens

[Jaeger]

Almost three years after the old Screens 2 and 3 were forced to close when Frobisher Crescent was converted into flats, and a few months later than initially advertised, the Barbican today opens a pair of new cinemas, the first additions to the Arts Centre since it opened in 1982.

Located at the eastern end of the Beech Street tunnel, near the Centre’s main Silk Street entrance, the new building has been transformed from its former life as Exhibition Hall 2 into twin 153-seat cinemas, and a spacious cafe and restaurant. The design work has been completed by AHMM, who were responsible for the broad refurbishment of the Arts Centre in 2003, and they’ve stuck to many of the same visual cues here.

The cinemas are decked out in plush red leather seats and support digital and 3D projection alongside 35mm and 16mm equipment; at a time when celluloid projection is waning, and cash-strapped cinemas scrambling to follow the digital trend, it’s good to see the Barbican support the superannuated medium.

The cinemas are open from today, Friday 7 December; our recommendation is to catch a screening of new thriller I, Anna, starring Charlotte Rampling and Gabriel Byrne, which is largely set — appropriately enough — in and around the Barbican.

http://londonist.com/2012/12/in-pict...an-cinemas.php

http://now-here-this.timeout.com/201...ehouse-buyout/

[Jaeger]

There is also the new Camera Cafe and Bar at the new Beech Street Cinemas

http://www.barbican.org.uk/film/new-...a-cafe-and-bar

[Jaeger]

In other related news

Originally Posted by Time Out

Hours earlier, news also came through that the Cineworld chain has bought the entire Picturehouse chain of cinemas (including venues such as the Ritzy in Brixton and the Gate in Notting Hill) for £47.3m. The official line is that the Picturehouses will be staying at they are – only now there’ll be more of them soon. We think it’s exciting news, but we also hope the Picturehouses will continue to maintain their welcoming charm, smart programming and varied events under new ownership.

http://now-here-this.timeout.com/201...ehouse-buyout/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...s-picturehouse

http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/

http://www.cineworld.co.uk/

Hackney Picture House -

[hugh]

Cheers for the info - incidentally I checked 'I, Anna' on IMDB - gets good reviews.

[Jaeger]

Originally Posted by hugh

Cheers for the info - incidentally I checked 'I, Anna' on IMDB - gets good reviews.

I have seen some good reviews as well

As for the Barbican Cinema looks like a really good cinema and cafe bar