As resident Film Nerd here at The Courier, I’d like to think I know a thing or two about the best places to catch the latest big-screen releases here in Newcastle. Whether you’re a media student, Star Wars fanatic, or just want an easy night out with your mates, the Toon offers a variety of options for you to kick back and watch some cinematic marvels; just please don’t actually kick the seats, or I will contact a member of staff.
The easiest option in the city centre is Cineworld, based in The Gate just a ten-minute walk from the main uni campus. Previously owned by Empire, Cineworld is the place to go for all the latest Hollywood releases, as well as occasional RSC live theatre showings.
With 16 screens, some seating up to 436 people, it’s one of the cheapest places to go to entertain your inner film fan; student tickets cost just £6.25, or save even more money by going on a Tuesday, where all 2D films are only £4.
The Tyneside Cinema showcases everything from blockbusters to rereleases of old classics and indie flicks, as well as offering numerous workshops to help young people get into filmmaking.
Not a fan of cinema chains? The Toon thankfully hosts one of the country’s best independent film theatres, The Tyneside. With four uniquely designed (and aptly named – who doesn’t want to feel like royalty on a leather sofa in The Classic?) screens, an art exhibition space, and three onsite bars and cafes, the Tyneside Cinema showcases everything from blockbusters to rereleases of old classics and indie flicks, as well as offering numerous workshops to help young people get into filmmaking.
2017 also marks the venue’s 80th anniversary, so there’s no better time to check out the quirky one-off events they host. Personal favourites include the annual Cult Classic All-Nighter, featuring a plethora of Halloween-appropriate horror films to marathon through from 10pm til 8am (with each film only costing £1!), and the Tyneside Café Quiz, where teams of five can fight to prove they’re movie trivia masters on the last Tuesday of each month.
Last but not least, if you don’t mind travelling a bit further out of the city centre, the intu MetroCentre hosts an ODEON Cinema in the upper Yellow Mall. Not only does it have a massive 17 screens, but also features the North East’s only IMAX screen, offering amazing sound and picture quality for an added £5 per head.
Last but not least, if you don’t mind travelling a bit further out of the city centre, the intu MetroCentre hosts an ODEON Cinema in the upper Yellow Mall.
You can also experience their state-of-the-art DBOX screenings; 4D versions of new releases where your seats move or vibrate in-sync with what’s on screen.
Make the most of their Bargain Mondays deal, with tickets costing only £5 for students, or splash out for seats in The Gallery, giving you extra-wide seats with added leg room, exclusive access to a VIP bar area, and unlimited popcorn, nachos and soft drinks.
Regardless of where you sit, travel to the MetroCentre is a breeze. Simply hop on the Stagecoach 100 Shuttle Bus from one of three drop off points in town; return tickets are only £4 and the buses run every ten minutes until 11pm.
Hopefully, this cinema snob’s guide helped you get better acquainted with the amazing film culture here in Newcastle; here’s hoping I’ll catch you at a midnight screening sometime soon!
