Rich Mix cinema is an artistic hub in the heart of the East End, offering film, live music, and exhibitions – and in my opinion one of the best places to catch a film in London.
Located on Bethnal Green Road in the very trendy Shoreditch area, you could be forgiven for walking straight past the imposing warehouse building and instead heading towards the bustle of Brick Lane just a stone’s throw up the road. But wait. Stop right where you are and go forth into the Mix – you will not be disappointed. Rich Mix cinema is as vibrant, rich and exciting as the area it finds itself in and combines boutique cinema screens with a café, art gallery and stage for live music. It showcases a wide selection of mainstream releases, specialised film seasons and movie festivals. The boutique cinema screens may not be as huge as your average big-budget multiplex and can feel very intimate, but that is what makes it so very special, and in my humble option, superior.
The walls and ceilings are decorated with bold ethnic prints and the multi-coloured seats are plush and comfy. Your fellow cinema-goers are trendy but friendly; like-minded film and London lovers and the silence when the picture starts is beautiful. No sound can be heard, not even a smartphone.
Rich Mix also offers a great on-site café, serving honest and tasty fare and very good coffee if the East London wind blows cold. Don’t panic, you can still indulge in the obligatory Pic’n’Mix selection, huge vats of salty and sweet popcorn and bottomless plastic cups of Cola, but the fully licensed main and mezzanine bar also means you can grab a beer before your film.
In summary, this is a trendy, lively and lovely cinema and arts space in vibrant East London and a real favourite of mine. My True London tip – head to Rich Mix cinema early on a Sunday afternoon, lose yourself in its labyrinthine space and then plop yourself down in one of the boutique cinema spaces and catch a film in style. Stay for a drink (or three) listen to some live music and then stagger happily up the road past Brick Lane to Tas Firin for delicious Turkish food.
But, shhh, keep this one to yourself…
NicolaG
