The Watershed is a welcome break on that row of bars and clubs by the waterside. Where all the other venues simply exist to be a bar where the rowdy Saturday crowd revel in, the Watershed is more focused on socialising, good food, and screenings of movies with depth and intelligence. Much like the Little Theatre is to Bath, the Watershed is a must -go for more alternative, independent films. I love coming here to watch films because you are ensured that every film being shown is a good film, and not something brainless that you might waste your money on. The cinema rooms are a fraction of the size of a big cinema like the Odeon, which just adds more charm to the movie watching. It feels much more intimate, comfortable and private. Much like you're watching a good secret. Prices are good too, if you come here for a film before 4pm, rates are £4.50 (£3.50 concessions), which is a real good price for a good film. After 4pm, prices go up to £7 (£5.50 concessions). They have movies and documentaries for children too, during their Cinekids days, where kids pay £2 for a movie, and £3.50 for accompanying adults. Plus their Cinebabies days (which I think is such an amazing idea), where parents can bring their under 12 month old babies to watch a movie! The Watershed provides great facilities like a place to change nappies, and even a bottle warming service! This is super for parents to enjoy a film with their newborns, and get to know other new mom's around. The watershed is such a great place, all the years I've been going here, it's never disappointed me in terms of the films they screen, or the friendly service they give you when you're here. read more

Watershed - Cinema Near Me - Bristol, BST

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The Watershed function spaces are great for small to medium conference events. They are multifunctional; the three cinema rooms (seating 43, 102 and 198 respectively) offer comfortable, air conditioned lecture spaces and the watershed 1, 2 and 3 rooms can be used individually or joined together to create a large space. The cafe/bar/restaurant sits between the cinemas and function rooms, offering food, drink and free wireless Internet. The staff are extremely hospitable; catering for all of your needs throughout the running of the event; from setting up spaces, to catering and even running last minute photocopying or printing. The Watershed is newly refurbished, clean and welcoming and in an ideal central location. read more

Watershed - from their website - Cinema Near Me - Bristol, BST

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A great selection of beers and ciders if you just want a drink and a varied array of great films. And now you can even take glasses through in to the cinema rather than having to change to plastic! Like, like, like! Great beer, cider and movies. read more

The Watershed is possibly the best cinema in the world, with perhaps the exception of the Cornerhouse in Manchester and FACT in Liverpool. With these it shares equal footing, although you don't get exhibitions at the Watershed like you do at FACT, which is a shame in my estimations. What you do get is a great choice of indie films at this art house cinema in the centre of town. With three screens to choose from there's always something worthwhile on the programme. This month they are playing host to The Festival of Ideas which "aims to stimulate people's minds and passions with an inspiring programme of discussion and debate throughout the year". "Established in 2005, the Bristol Festival of Ideas emerged out of Bristol's bid to be Capital of Culture in 2008. Although this was not successful in terms of winning the bid, the partners behind the project made the commitment to deliver as much of the programme as possible. By 2008 much of the programme had been delivered". www.ideasfestival.co.uk/ Watershed also participate in several film festivals, some mainstream and some lesser known, more quirky indie affairs. You can find out more about these at: www.dshed.net/category/festival-diaries With talks, workshops, seminars, and festivals, the Watershed is a creative hub that plays a seminal role in supporting the cultural wealth of the city. read more

The watershed is an excellent multipurpose venue on the harbourside in the city centre. It's main purpose is a cinema, which shows mainly alternative and art house films. The three screens double up, however, as conference and meeting rooms, and provide a really decent space for speeches and seminar type events. The cafe/bar splits the cinema area from the purpose built meeting rooms at the other end of the building. The cafe offers teas, coffees, alcohol and fairly priced meals (try the nachos,they're really good!). It's an excelelent space, a good venue and a cinema all in one - definitely a cultural establishment that Bristol should be proud of. read more

For a movie experience that is a little different, go to the Watershed which guarantees to only play independent films...well, that's what they say. In my opinion, it's gone a bit more mainstream recently, as some of the films you can see in Odeon or Showcase. The cinema rooms are massive and the sound system is awesome. The showcase is a multifunctional venue an can be used for lectures and conferences. The cafe/restaurant at the top of the building is a lovely place to sit and watch the boats go past. read more

Watershed - photo form watershed website - Cinema Near Me - Bristol, BST

The Watershed is Bristol's best independent cinema, showcasing a variety of arthouse and foreign films you just won't see anywhere else. The programme changes monthly and often features a series of themed films looking at anything from gay and lesbian cinema to a featured director to anime. There are also regular workshops relating to the cinema industry with open attendance, usually for a relatively small fee. It's also worth keeping an eye open on the website for other events as the Watershed often gets involved in some of Bristol's arts festivals. As if that all wasn't enough, there's even an excellent cafe-bar overlooking the waterfront with a welcoming atmosphere, a wide selection of specialist beers and good food on offer. read more

This venue ticks multiple boxes; great location - yes, three screen cinema - you bet, delicious treats in a cool café - absolutely. Add to this a media centre and host to numerous conferences, fairs and exhibitions and you have a unique and well-loved Bristol institution. Situated on the Waterfront the Watershed serves so many purposes. The cinema is great for catching documentaries and foreign films and the café/bar is great for a central coffee or after work pint. I particularly love coming here when the annual BBC Wildlife festival is on as there is a whole week of films about animals, like classic documentaries such as Grizzly Man and March of the Penguins. The theatres are quite small but the seats are large and comfy. There are free computers for use at the back of the bar and a delightful balcony to sit and chill out on when the weather is good. read more

The Watershed is one of Bristols true gems, nestled on the waterfront, it offers a bit of everything - quirky postcards and greeting cards, to a cafe/bar, and even a cinema. My recent trip was to go to the Encounter Film Festival - which was on it's 20th anniversary - and what a great venue this was. I'd never been to the cinema here before, but knew that it specialised in independent films (something I personally love), and it really was special, comfy chairs, and is the same size as cinemas used to be, so felt cosy as well. Well worth a visit - I will most certainly be going back - a lot I hope. read more

If you like art films, foreign language films, documentaries, and an interesting selection of films you probably won't see in the chain cinemas, this is the place for you! The Watershed is located on the waterfront, and has a small gift shop in the ticket selling area. The theatres are located on an upper level, and there is a lift to take you there as well as stairs. The Watershed is more of an arts complex than just a cinema. There is a nice cafe on the upper level with a bar, a few areas for lounging and chatting, computer access, and various programmes throughout the month (I have attended art showings and a film writer's seminar) which are listed online as well as in a booklet available there and in random places around Bristol. Though the cinemas have been updated, they are still rather small compared to most mainstream cinemas. The seats aren't the most comfy or have great legroom, and they don't serve the usual cinema fare (which some will say is a blessing!). But, if you want to see interesting films you won't see elsewhere in a theatre setting, this is the place to be. Plus, they occasionally have the directors on hand for the premier showing with a Q&A afterwards. If you love film (and not just what you would see at a multiplex), this is the place to be! read more

The Watershed is something of a Bristol institution - especially for those 'young professionals' and 'arty types' who move to the city and have no idea where is 'cool' and 'hip' to go. If you ask anyone where's good to go in Bristol, the café, come cinema, come community hub is bound to make a show at some point. So, on Friday night myself and the boyfriend decided to check it out. Having seen that the Greek film 'Dogtooth' was in Venue Magazine's 'Recommended' section we figured that now was as good a time as any to try a dinner and film combo. We started with dinner - ideally we would have liked a full three course meal but the only showing of the film was 8.20pm, and we didn't get there until gone 7.30pm due to work commitments. So, we settled on a main course each from the organic and locally sourced, or 'Plot to Plate', as they call it, menu. I choose the fish cakes with spring greens and coconut and lime sauce. It was gorgeous - meaty chunks of fish, iron rich greens cooked perfectly and a gorgeous creamy sauce with a bit of a tang. My only change would have been to have the sauce on the side - it was lovely but there was a bit too much on the plate. The boyf had the lamb kofta, which melted in the mouth and was perfectly seasoned. Served with crisp tabouleh salad, pita bread and chunky cous cous it was the perfect combination. Its only minor flaw was that it was quite a small portion (in his view anyway - I'm swaying towards the fact he's just a bit greedy!) We washed it all down with a bottle of Pinot Grigio - I should point out that it's well worth buying a bottle here - a glass can set you back up to £7 a go. Kudos points to the nice bar lady who pointed that out to us. The atmosphere wasn't that of a usual restaurant, it felt creative and had a real mixture of people - from suited and booted business men having an after dinner drink to students enjoying a few beers. That seems to be one of the great things about it - whoever you are you'll fit in at the Watershed. It's got such an eclectic, friendly and buzzing feel to it. When you're eating you can feel it's not just a restaurant - there's more to it than that. As for the film, a Greek black comedy which has been shocking audiences across Europe since its release, that's a different review altogether. However if you like subtitled films containing incest, cat killings and an awful lot of nudity then it's definitely one for you! Seriously, don't be put off - it was a really through provoking film which left the audience quite literally speechless. Check out http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/87783/dogtooth.html for more info. Overall, we'd definitely visit again, though perhaps on a Saturday next time so we don't have the same time restraints. If you want great food and atmosphere that's a bit different to the norm then it's the perfect place, and if edgy, stereotype-challenging films are your thing then it's definitely highly recommended. read more

The last time I was here was for a Free Graffiti light workshop which was great fun. We got to hang outside and draw using led lights. It all started off quite innocently but as the night drew in there were less pictures of fish, cocktail classes and more depictions of puking and violence. The area itself does seem to have an edgy feel about at evening time. The Watershed as a venue is fantastic, a great place to come and find something thought provoking to watch. If you are flexible about time, its possible to come and see a movie here for only £4.50, bargain! The cafe bar is an open light space and its nice to enjoy a pre / post cinema drink. Keep an eye on the website as along with the Cube, its a cinema that shows different weird and wonderful films that you won't see plastered all over buses. read more

I adore this place. Cafe inside as well as an independent cinema. Wonderful wonderful wonderful. Food is pretty good, great drink selection, atmosphere is probably its best attribute. I recommend the chunky chips with garlic mayo and a pint of cider :) read more

Cafe is upstairs from the entrance lobby. Excellent and relaxed venue for a spot of lunch, particularly if vegetarian as most dishes fall into this category. Nice location too. The clientele seem to range from the "arty" type, probably there for the cinema to the business types there for conferences. High chairs available for babies. read more

The watershed cinema is great. It is an independent cinema and screens films that are harder to find. A lot of them are not English or from the USA and they are not necessarily what is appealing or advertised as commercial. There is a cafe right next to the cinema and a little shop with cards and dvds down stairs in the entrance. There is festival on short films going on this week in fact! read more

There's so much to love about the Watershed- it's in an incredible location, it shows really inspiring independent movies as well as the bigger critics choice films and the bar and cafe is awesome. The only drawback is if you've been to see a film late on a Friday and Saturday you have to run the gauntlet of so many drunken idiots spilling out of all the harbourside pubs and clubs. A total buzz kill and way to snap you back into it after peacefully watching a really good film. The cinemas themselves are pretty tiny but really comfortable and they always have a great programme of events ongoing. But even if you are just looking for a relaxed lunch in a great setting the Arnolfini ticks all the boxes. There's tables out on a balcony overlooking the water or you can sit in the lovely barn-style space. They serve lovely home-cooked foods like Moroccan tagine and vegetable koftas and operate a plot to plate policy in conjunction with The Better Food Company in St Werburgh's so all the food is locally and ethically sourced. read more

The cinema plays host to the Viva Spanish Film tour every year and shows some lesser know (ie. Non-Hollywood movies). The cinema auditorium is marvelous, plenty of leg room, spacious, clean and with super acoustics. The pricing is also in line with other more commercial cinemas. The Last movie I went to see included a short talk by someone who was fairly central to its production followed y someone from the University's media/film society which was a bonus! read more

Good art house stuff.

Lot's of varied films, great to get away from the hollywood blockbusters. Very clean,comfortable seats & great audio. must visit for any true film fanatic. read more

I was introduced to Watershed by a good Bristolian friend who had a keen eye for the moving picture. As a movie lover, and one that avoids blockbusters at all cost, Watershed provided a safe haven of hope for my independent film fetish. In the centre of Bristol amongst the array of cafes and bar it oversees the scenic river landscape. Upstairs there is a comfortable and cosy bar with a restaurant serving up delicious afternoon delights. Whilst you wait for your film screening you can pop next door and take advantage of the free internet screens or wi'fi and travel through cyber space or lounge out with friends .Watershed is a hub for cultural and intelligent moving pictures, its a great place to enjoy a coffee with friends, watch a movie or two or just sit and watch the riverboats swoosh by. Its guaranteed you'll be back again. read more

Poor 'Front of House' management and an inadequate Box Office provision reveal the problems facing the Watershed at the moment. About a hundred customers were left waiting outside at peak time on Saturday night with no explanation. Luckily for the one uncommunicative security guard, the crowd were very well-behaved. The broken prepaid ticket facillity was only part of the problem; the manager left just one person dealing with the tickets in a situation which resulted in several young people being left outside literally 'in the cold' when they had tickets for "Bristol's Finest", a film they helped to make! My disabled friend, a woman in her fifties was also unable to see the film we had booked tickets for, 'A Serious Man' after standing in the cold for 30 minutes, because when we finally arrived at screen 1 there were no seats left where she could see the film, let alone sit with her two friends. The front of house staff need more training in disability awareness and dealing with young people; Verity Alexander, the woman in charge of this debacle, managed to insult everyone she addressed by using inappropriate terms and a supercilious sneer. I have been going to the Watershed since it opened and I am sure that the people who promote film making with young people would have cringed as I did to witness the way they and others were treated last night. I will be going to the Cube more in future! read more