Depending on what your film tastes are there are a variety of cinemas in and out of the city which still show a flickering picture and satisfy you with the sweet smell of celluloid.
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall continues to be known as one of the UK's premier arts and entertainment venues. It opened on 27th August 1849 before being dramatically destroyed by fire in 1933. 75 years on from the fire, the present hall, designed by architect Herbert Rowse opened in 1939 and consists of a unique Walturdaw rising cinema screen, the only working screen of its type left in the world ! Expect a whiff of nostalgia and the taste of green and blacks ice cream this is a great venue to take your grandma and argue about how cinema isn't as good as it used to be. As well as screening current releases, the philharmonic has kept the dream alive with screening classics from Alfred Hitchcock to Carol Reed. We only wish they brought back Wednesday afternoon's a la Brief Encounters and we had an excuse to leave work early and talk to strangers. Be strong and keep clapping. http://www.liverpoolphil.com
FACT Picturehouse So that really uncomfortable space they call the Box has new sofas so FACT has officially become one of my favourites. Screening a heady mix of independent, world and mainstream cinema. Thursdays and Wednesday are often the days to pay a visit, good coffee and a friendly social scene - catch emerging artist film and video, world cinema or join a film course and argue that Steve Guttenberg is the new Steve McQueen. Staff are friendly and informed and the shop is quite an aladdins cave with dvd deals, cool zines and books. http://www.fact.co.uk
Woolton Picturehouse A fare way out of the city centre Woolton Picturehouse is one of the last independent cinemas. A single screen local cinema,with lots of charm known to maintain some of those early cinema traditions such as a half time break in the film accompanying ice-cream sales ladies and live organ music. It's come close to closing down a few times since the 1920s but the strength of the local will to keep it running elevates the cinema beyond the multiplex. http://www.wooltonpicturehouse.co.uk/
