City Screen was formed in 1989 to provide cinemas that serve their communities in city centre locations. We are now the leading independent cinema operator in the UK.
Independent, art-house and foreign-language films have always been central to our profile. Equally, each of our cinemas is programmed in response to its local audience, and most of our venues have mainstream blockbusters and quality crossover titles in the mix.
Our first cinema was the Phoenix in Oxford which was bought as a going concern when the previous owners retired. In 1992 we opened our first custom-built cinema, Clapham Picturehouse, and since then we have grown steadily through a mixture of new builds and acquisitions, particularly in university cities such as Oxford, Cambridge, London, Brighton and York.
Our philosophy includes:
- * building architecturally interesting cinemas in city centre locations
- * screening a wide range of features spanning art-house, independent, classic, documentary and world cinema films as well as Hollywood blockbusters. Programming is tailored to each cinema individually
- * hosting filmmaker Q&As, film festivals, themed seasons and specialised strands
- * embracing digital projection and satellite technology to pioneer alternative content programming, such as the live broadcast of productions from the New York Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House and the National Theatre, as well as the live transmission of film-related Q&As
- * providing cafe-bars as an integral part of the cinemagoing experience
- * employing staff who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about film
- * providing printed programmes and online communications which inform, educate and encourage planned entertainment
- * running a cinema membership scheme and clubs involving diverse groups such as children, new parents and the elderly
- * generating and partnering on educational work and courses which develop appreciation and understanding of film
Central to the Company philosophy is maintaining the individuality of each cinema.
