I've always been curious about this place when I walked past in on my Kingston travels, and now my…read morecuriosity has been satisfied!
It's basically a rep theatre, but what a rep theatre! Two screens, with them and the box office upstairs. There is elevator access, so the space is totally accessible.
I didn't take any photos here, because although I don't mind being a nuisance in a restaurant, there's something about doing it in a movie theatre that makes me reluctant. So we'll see how good my powers of description are.
You can buy tickets ahead of time online, or at the box office. I did the latter, and was amazed when the ticket master swung a screen around and showed me the seating plan. I could choose my own seat! What world was this? What kind of rep cinema heaven?
All the standard concession standards were on sale, along with various beers and ciders for the adults who want such things while watching a movie.
The decor isn't anything remarkable, except for the closed gramophone cabinet with a DO NOT TOUCH sign (close enough, I forget the exact wording). It made me wonder if they crank it up for special events...
I saw a lady with a ceramic coffee mug. So as to not keep everyone in suspense, a slide in the theatre said they can serve you a drink in a ceramic cup or a disposable one, your choice! What was going on?
Futhermore, my popcorn with no topping was delicious. Almost no unpopped kernels. Another slide informed me that they popped them using coconut oil, and that they used REAL BUTTER. What are the rents like in Kingston, anyway?
With all this, the prices were comparable to what you pay in Toronto for a rep theatre.
The theatre is long and narrow, because there are two of them side by side. For the size of the room, the screen is a fine size, and the seats are modern, clean, and comfortable. Sound is great as well.
I chatted with the cinema masters behind the counter after the movie, and they aren't on any standard rep circuit. The owner picks out what they like for the programme. Frankly, I liked a lot more of the monthly calendar than my current Toronto rep theatre, as much as I love it.
All the prices are pretty rep theatre standard. If you're in downtown Kingston with a couple of hours to spare, this is a wonderful space to catch a movie in!