191 Portobello Road,
London,
W11 2ED
0872 148 4231
The ViewLondon Review
Standard ticket price and discounts: Mon-Fri: £6.50 (£5.50 members); Sat & Sun: £7.50 (£6.50 members); Double-bills: £5.50; Concessions: £4 (all day Monday only).
Capacity: Screen One (205)
Facilities: Concession stand
The Electric Cinema is located in Portobello Road, a short distance from either Ladbroke Grove tube station or Westbourne Park tube station.
Film-wise it specializes in arthouse fare, usually showing the latest high-profile foreign or independent releases, though occasionally a ‘quality’ blockbuster will sneak onto their schedules.
They also run a series of double-bills every Sunday, which can be anything from foreign films to classics. In addition, there is a members-only ‘Kids Club’ that shows children’s films and provides games and activities on Saturday afternoons.
The Electric also occasionally hosts special events, such as evenings of short films.
It only has the one screen, which is disappointingly small, given the size of the auditorium. However, the seats are very comfortable (plenty of leg-room), the sight lines are good and the sound system is decent.
What gives the Electric that extra touch, though, are the sofas and armchairs at the very back, so it’s advisable to be first in the queue. (The lights are quite bright though, so you may have to endure everyone staring at you as they come in!)
One odd thing about the Electric is their habit of only opening moments before the first showing in the evening – if you’re early, you could be forgiven for thinking the place was closed…
Altogether, then, the surroundings are attractive (the Electric was converted from an old-time cinema) and the seats comfortable. It’s worth keeping an eye on, too, as it’s currently under new management and changes have been promised for the New Year. Watch this space.