It seems rather strange that a city like Chester doesn't have a decent cinema closer than this,…read moreanother cloned multiplex in an out-of-town retail park in the middle of nowhere, but there it is. Actually I say the middle of nowhere, that's just what it felt like during the 20 minute drive in the dark - it's actually on the edge of Ellesmere Port, but that's hardly a hub of civilisation in itself. It's the typical retail park scenario, you know the kind of thing - windy roads, lots of roundabouts, a steady breeze sweeping the tumbleweeds past as you're dazzled by the neon glow from Burger King, Nandos, Pizza Hut, Frankie & Benny's, Bella Italia, and the other usual suspects. The cinema experience itself was just like any other Vue, I just hate this universal trend towards corporate blandness that insists on building these huge conglomerate retail parks in the middle of nowhere.

This is really the only choice of cinema in the Chester area if you are looing for decent screen…read moresize and a good amount of leg room. It's annoying to get to without a car as the buses can be quite bad and sometimes don't show up at all. If you can get there then it is a far better venue than any cinema nearer to the city. With a large number of screens there are a lot of films on offer at any one time. In fact last time we visited, my wife ended up watching a different film to me, and this worked out great with only a 20 minute wait for one of us. The food is obviously a massive rip off, but that is true of every cinema these days. Luckily the rest of the retail park offers a range of restaurants to suit al tastes so it is worth eating before or after the film rather than spending a similar amount on a drink and some ice cream.

There scanner didn't scan my ticket properly so I got a strike against my account and when I…read moreinformed customer support of this they said that the strike would stand even though it was an issue with their equipment/staff and as long as I followed my membership rules it wouldn't matter but god forbid they mess up again I get punished for something that I didn't do they don't care at all

I am here to fulfil a promise to a worker called Vanessa. I promised her I'd write a review about…read moreher. She was so helpful and fast, and looked like she should get a raise! Cinema is good staff brilliant only reason for a 4 star is drink machine gave our water instead of coke, it is a good place to go for little trips out, wouldn't recommend parties. (there's better places) it's near nandos and Maccies so good spots for quick meals. GO SAY HI TO VANESSA OR ELSE.

First off I should say that I only used their bar upstairs in to hang out and work in - but it was…read morea great place with a lovely vibe and a really diverse mix of people coming and going through the day. Really friendly staff, a good selection of alcoholic drinks and some really nice teas - I thought the lemongrass one was excellent! The only disappointing thing was that they don't serve food (not their fault) upstairs - there is a really good looking cafe downstairs though...so because I was restricted in meetings up here I basically survived just on snacks from the bar like edamame beans, cookies and coffee - not a bad afternoon :-) I'd recommend this place for a quiet place to relax, meet up with friends and just generally have some peace and quiet in your life.

Road movies Cult movies…read moreArthouse movies World cinema movies Independent movies Reclining seats Intimate sofas for two Green & Blacks Ice Cream & Drinks you can take in with you The only thing that could make me love Picture House @ FACT even more is a Penelope Cruz triple bill. Just a suggestion, folks...

My sister-in-law has one of the unlimited passes to Odeon, so she's been to this cinema a lot…read more She told me this Odeon cinema was recently been redone, so while it didn't used to be busy, now it's quite a popular cinema! We experienced that when we went last week unfortunately. The reason is it's so busy is because there's much less seating now, but that's because all the seats are big, comfy recliners! They are awesome! Each seat gets its own little snack table as well. The seats recline and pop up with a foot rest. They are very comfortable -- perhaps a little too comfortable. I was still experiencing jet lag from our flight over, so I fell asleep several times during the film, but granted, the film didn't end until nearly midnight! It was so crowded that we had to wait an hour for the next available showing of the film we were trying to see. You can book your seats online though (we couldn't do that this time since my mother-in-law had a voucher she wanted to use, which coincedently, didn't even end up being valid since this was a luxe cinemas. doh!). In the lobby, there's a waiting area and a Costa Coffee inside. There's plenty of parking too. If you need snacks, there's a Home Bargain in the same plaza. In addition to popcorn and candy, the cinema itself also does fries (and probably some other items; I didn't really look). The whole theater smelled of fries when we walked in though. I wish the prices were a bit cheaper, but if you're a local, the unlimited monthly pass seems like a steal. It only costs a little more than the price of one movie to see unlimited films for the whole month. That's great! I also wish there was somewhere for your coat and your purse. I ended up putting my coat on the short wall behind my seat which worked out fine. The theater's seats are tiered, so each row is slightly elevated from the previous row. Each row has a spacious aisle in front of it too, so there's no squeezing past to get to your seat. Plus you have an entire little wall behind your seat (or in front I suppose), to put your cost on. I think they could use a little hook though by your seat for your purse and that would really be perfect! The only other downside is, there were a lot of ads! I don't mean trailers, I mean straight up ads. I thought the movie would start at 9 pm, but the ads started at 9, followed by the trailers, so the movie didn't start for ages which really sucked since I already was so exhausted. Anyway, 4 stars because this is the most comfortable I've ever been at the movies before! Plus the staff were really nice, trying to get my MIL's voucher to work and then trying to work out the best option for tickets with her NHS discount and my grandma-in-law's senior rate.

odeon is shit staff are bell ends when i tried to walk in the staff right hooked me for not having…read moreid at 15

A wonderful place to go lone, or with loved ones. Sadly, I'm in the former category there. It's…read morejust hard isnt it? You're married for 34 years and just like that it's over. It's been coming upto 2 years now and the pain is still there. Judith, if you're reading this I am doing okay please lift the restraining order.

How many cinemas are showing the Maltese Falcon this Sunday (29 August 2010)? And I'm not talking…read moreabout some dodgy remake starring a regular from the pages of Now or Closer. I'm talking the 1941 adaptation of the novel starring Humphrey Bogart. All for a fiver. That's right, £5. I'm guessing it's one. The Woolton Picture House on Mason Street. This cinema, unlike many others, actually opened its doors before the Maltese Falcon hit screens. 26 December 1927, to be exact. I can imagine the excitement now - the stars of the big screen coming to this homely part of south Liverpool. People will have travelled, walked in most cases, from miles around to see films here. My Nan was one of them. Sorry Nan, showing your age! Despite its slightly decrepit outer appearance, it hasn't lost any of the magic. How many modern cinemas have intervals where they come round with affordable ice creams/lollies? No idea, I must confess. But I do know they do here. All part of the experience. I remember watching Nowhere Boy, the film about John Lennon, in the picture house, and one of the scenes was actually set in the very same pictures! Deservedly so, for I'm sure this theatre has touched many lives. A real treat.

This is a great community cinema. Modest prices, helpful staff and the cozy feeling of contributing…read moreto a local institution make this a great weekend activity.

When I look at the Plaza as I go past or as I enter it, I can't help thinking of the cinema in…read more'Last Action Hero' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, where a boy who loves watching action movies is given a special ticket by the owner of this old cinema and gets to go into the movie itself. It all goes a bit wrong after that though because the characters start coming out of the films and into real-life but the magic of small, independent cinemas such as the one in the movie is there to see in the Plaza. Whilst you won't get friendly old men passing you magic tickets here (they'd probably call the police if you saw any), you do get a great viewing experience when you visit. The screens themselves might not be the biggest and the seats might not be the fanciest, but when you visit the Plaza you do really feel like you're giving something back to the community. The staff there are all very friendly and helpful and the prices there are very cheap, especially compared to the bigger chain cinemas in Liverpool and Southport nearby. The Plaza also does a special reduced rate on a Wednesday to compete with the ever popular Orange Wednesdays offer, so there's really no reason not to visit here when you fancy a trip to the cinema. A local treasure that needs everyone's support in the local area.

The VUE cinema in Birkenhead is perfect for catching a movie at any time of day. It's in an ideal…read morelocation as it is right next to Conway Park Train Station and right in the centre of Birkenhead. This cinema used to be called Warner Village, and is situated next door to the Europa Pools swimming baths, a place ideal for families with children as id has flumes for the kids. So if you're looking for a cinema and a swimming baths for a weekend day with the kids, this is the ideal location for a family day out. Although Birkenhead seems to be more of a rundown city that it was when I was a kid, this end of the town doesn't seem all that bad. That said, it's not a place I would recommend hanging around at night. This cinema is a mainstream venue and tends to lean towards showing mainstream movies as opposed to independent films, which are always the best. But of course the majority of people will want to see the latest high budget blockbuster, and this is the place for that!

This Vue cinema is cheaper than Cheshire Oaks! It doesn't have an I-MAX cinema screen, but has…read morearound 12 screens showing the latest films. They don't have many late night special viewings as Cheshire Oaks, but they are a nice cinema facility. These days you queue up to get food and tickets from the food tills which can cause long queues which is out of the staffs hands and more up to the senior management. The staff there are very friendly particularly the duty managers who do their best to accommodate your needs. There is pick and mix of course as standard here!! You can pick any seats so get in early! Plenty of parking at night for free, but pay and display in the day.

Every good city requires its own independent art centre, and FACT manages to fulfil all the…read morecultural needs of arty Scousers and more. Smart, sleek and stylish, it puts on a wide array of thoughtfully chosen films and art exhibitions which arguably rival those of many larger art spaces. Take for example the recent 'Space Invaders' exhibition, which saw the space filled with retro arcade machines and exhibitions detailing the history of video games, or the wonderful WAR exhibition currently on in the gallery space. And then there's the building itself - a towering vista of glass and chrome, topped with a breathtaking atrium. Stand at the top of the building, and you can see down the entire length of Bold Street in all of its giddy glory. The cinemas themselves are a delight - the chairs are roomy and spacious, and they have a handy drinks rest for your pint - a very nice touch! Their film repertoire definitely rivals that of the major multiplexes - plus, at FACT, you're less likely to have M&M's thrown at your head by rowdy teenagers whilst you're trying to watch the main feature. FACT also contains a delightful little cafe which is a great space to curl up with a coffee and a good book on a sunny afternoon. It also has free Wi-Fi, which makes it a great place to work from during the day if you're looking to get out of the office. The only gripe I have with FACT is that sometimes there's not enough staff working in its bar - which means that the service on a busy night can be decidedly slow - not great if you've popped in for a quick drink before going to see a film. Once they get this right, I can think of no better place to go for an enjoyable and educational night out.

To rate Fact, you'd have to ask yourself what you want from a cinema. I think the following:…read morea. A good variety of films, a mixture of hits and more obscure movies b. No hassle or irritations, such as trouble causers who've no intention of enjoying the film in question c. A nice place to visit before/after the film starts, or somewhere you'd want to go back to time and time again Fact, parallel to Bold Street, one of the city's main shopping streets, fulfills all these wishes and more. A light, airy and modern building (that was criticised at the time of building), Fact shows some great off-circuit and obscure films, but does so much more as well. A trendy bar area (the first place in Liverpool to sell Hoegaarden years ago before it was cool), drinks you can take into the auditorium, reclining seats, quiz nights, a cafe, wifi, sofas (in the ground floor cinema), various functions several times a month: you get the feeling from the outset that you're being treated like an adult. There are slightly cheaper places to see a film, but the simple fact here is that you get what you pay for: good films in a lovely surrounding watched by people that also like film and aren't going to wreck your evening. The local Odeon instead? Not a chance.

Currently this is the only mainstream cinema in the appallingly lacking Liverpool City Centre…read more(though I believe a multiplex is on its way), so it's very convenient. It is surprisingly large, for what looks like a little corner cinema. The quality of the building is fairly good, although I did go to see a film once in a smaller screen, and it seemed rather draughty and unattractive. However, on the whole this is a good place to go see a film. It has the expected amenities (outrageously overpriced food and drink, for example) and shows all the latest releases.

A deceptively biggish cinema in the heart of Liverpool. In a prime location, just on the outskirts…read moreof the city centre so easy to walk to, right next to a busy bus route and Lime Street station, so accessible for so many people. Prices are average for cinema's these days. Clean facilities and comfortable seating. The staff are also very helpful and welcoming. Have bee to this cinema many times now and not had a bad experience to date. Would recommend as part of a night out as it's so ideal being in the location it is, it would be very easy to get to and you could have a meal or go for a drink without going out of your way. Plus it also has the latest releases available to watch, perfect!

An old style cinema with few screens and cramped leg room but it is alot cheaper than the vue or…read moreother theatres in the area seeing a blockbuster flick wont cost you a couple of hours wages for two seats. Another good thing that it has the cheap tuesdays with the student pricing for adults and it is mostly quiet so you're most likely to come across people who have no manners when it comes to being quiet for acouple of hours. Based in the greyhound park just outside of chester city centre, there are other store and restuarants around with plenty of parking, that maybe trickier to get a space.

This is our local cinema and there was a time when it was state of the art, but now it is put into…read morethe shade somewhat by the Vue cinema on Cheshire Oaks. There are only 6 screens, so make sure that the film you want to watch is actually available before making a journey and ticket prices are reasonable - certainly cheaper than it's competitors. The bar, however, is pretty expensive and you'll need a second mortgage for a pick 'n' mix and popcorn but this seems to be pretty standard across all cinemas though. The main benefit is that it is rarely that busy, particularly during the week, which means that the chances of being able to watch a film without someone drowning out any dialogue are pretty good.