Duke of Yorks (Brighton) > Reviews > a very Brightonian cinema

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Is it worth visiting?
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Advantages:	good selection of films, groovy balcony, bar, reasonable prices, great ambience
Disadvantages:	er none, sometimes the late night film selection is a bit lame

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This splendid cinema can be found on Preston Circus, about half a mile from the royal pavilion. It is easily reachable by car, foot or public transport. London Road station is only a quarter of a mile away as well.

Built in typical grandiose Edwardian style, the frontage is complemented by a couple of 'theatrical' legs on the roof. The Duke of York vies with my own local arthouse cinema, the East finchley Phoenix as being the oldest still functioning cinema in the country.

Just like the phoenix, it has its own distinctive air - a very welcome difference from the anodyne Warner/Virgin/Odeon multiplexes. The films shown are your usual arthouse fave which are only released at a few cinemas in this country. In addition, there are 'silver screen' showings for pensioners, saturday morning kids club showings, special previews for members and friday/saturday late night showings of old cult favourites etc at 11:15pm. Prices are very reasonable, usually around £5 for full admission with students and other concessions getting in for £3.50-£4. Prices are cheaper on the late night showings, on Mondays and for the various clubs.

The refreshments have that individual touch with delicacies such as Samosas and a very scrumptious carrot cake being served. Upstairs there is a licenced bar and even a roof terrace where you can enjoy your drink on those balmy Brighton summer evenings.
Once you get into the screening room, you face a choice.Sit down below with the screen sometimes uncomfortably close, or go onto the circle tier which is set back in fine style, almost like a west end theatre? For me there is no choice whatsoever. If you wish to pay a bit more, you can even hire an opera style alcove.

So when you're in Brighton, go down to the Duke of York and even if you don't wish to see a film, enjoy a drink on the rooftop terrace. An individual cinema if ever there was one!