Curzon Cinemas Bloomsbury

Arthouse Film below the Surface

Last October, as awards season began, I faced an extreme predicament. American style chains like Vue were not going to show Oscar contenders like "Arrival" or "Nocturnal Animals" in a cinematic environment. Crying children, loud popcorn munchers and thirty minutes of trailers were not things I desired.

After some in depth Googling, I stumbled upon Curzon Bloomsbury. I knew this was the one. Its proximity to Russell Square can't be beat. You have your choice of local favourites Leon, Carluccio's and Las Iguanas next door if you desire dinner and a movie.

Once inside, the charm is apparent. A full bar sits to the back of the cinema. A selection of wine, local brews and always delicious fresh baked deserts are available. When you buy your tickets, you make your way underground to the basement. This is no creaky cellar however. Clean lines and exposed concrete give the cinema an understated museum feel.

The five underground screens are of varying sizes. Larger films "La La Land" and "Jackie" currently occupy the more traditional sized screens, while documentary films take hold in the smaller. All screens are equipped with pristine Sony 4K projectors and one of only two Dolby Atmos sound systems in all of central London.

There's nothing quite like strolling into an afternoon showing of "Jackie" with a tall glass of water, a slice of carrot cake and peace of mind. In a frenetic world, sometimes that's all you need.

Conner Miller

TripTide User