Close-Up Cinema

Beautiful space and concept, but had to leave due to someone on their phone multiple times and even filming the screen. You’d think in a place like this you’d be immune from phone users but no. Maybe a ‘turn off phones’ advert would be applicable before screenings or something similar made in house. Also, very loud, like unnecessarily loud. I’ve been to concerts that were quieter 😆

What a great venue! Jake and the team were so helpful and accommodating. Lovely relaxed atmosphere - everything was taken care of and the team were able to enjoy a morning away from the office. The cinema itself is well equipped and comfortable, and there's a great seating area and bar to hang out in.

Privately hired the screen for a birthday party. Staff were super helpful, answered all questions, and were in constant communication from my first enquiry to the actual day. It was a great experience and would recommend to everyone. The collection of films to rent alone is a reason to visit. So many hidden gems that you can’t get on streaming platforms.

Everything was absolutely perfect for the cast and crew screening. Close-up as a venue is very well situated. Inside it is charming and comfortable, with an extensive library of films and film literature. The staff is very helpful and friendly. The facilities including the cinema room, bar and available spaces for socialising are ideal. On a technical level the sound equipment and projection were excellent. All round a fantastic venue.

We had a lovely short film premiere screening, with drinks afterwards in the bar. Wonderful place, friendly staff and incredible DVD selection!

I am always nervous to ask about the cinema and have been dying to explore it, it looks so lovely. The place is somewhere I like to just sit and drink coffee n work. Not as busy as other places and such a cozy place. Close-Up is one of those places I Constantly recommend to people

Can't speak highly enough of the service and professionalism shown by the team at Close-Up Cinema! We screened our students end-of-year short films here and the projection and sound was fantastic, we had no issues with the format of the films we provided, and everyone who attended enjoyed the experience and the drinks afterwards in the bar. Highly recommended and we look forward to returning!

We booked the screen for a short premiere and I am so happy with how the night went! All the communication before, during and after the event was on point, Jake was responsive and clear and Will made us feel so welcome on the night. Will definitely come back soon!

We popped into "Close-Up" late on a weekday evening. We weren't looking for a specific place, but we decided to grab a cup of coffee and relax. It was fantastic. It a really chill spot, with good music, relaxing vibes, and a good spot for tea, coffee, or an adult beverage as well. If you don't mind venturing off in the night in the neighborhood, it's a cool spot.

This tiny shop carries a fantastic collection of cinema. Upstairs is mostly name-brand movies and new releases, but downstairs is where the more obscure, foreign, short, and documentary titles are - and where the real gems are to be found. I've never before encountered a video store with so much space dedicated to artists' biographies and retrospectives, nor such a vast collection of short compilations. They also have a cherry picked collection of documentaries - I have trouble not taking the entire shelf home with me when I pay a visit since they've got so many that sound intriguing and got top-marks at film festivals (Sundance, Cannes, Toronto), but for whatever reason, never made it into the popular distribution a la Michael Moore (though they have him too). Oh, and of course, it goes without saying that their classics section is also phenomenal - complete with companion book volumes upstairs on sale to go along with certain particularly notable films - for the true cinephiles. The staff is uber knowledgeable about what's in the store's collection - it's clear to see that these are the types that breathe, sleep, and dream film. And the prices are pretty reasonable - especially if you go for the unlimited rental option, which only costs £20 (otherwise, it's £3 per rental). *Only* complaint is that the films are organized by directors... which I'm sure is totally intuitive for die-hard film lovers... but not always so much for those of us who are a little less erudite - I mean, I appreciate the education I've received on this matter and all as a result... but it's not always the most convenient!

It's the place to go for our long nights during winter or simply during the week end when you want to be lazy by sitting in a sofa or whatever. This is not a simply DVD shop, it is the ONE! Full of dvd's, it's really hard to make a choice maybe that's why you can enrol for a membership not expensive at all if you are a movie-goer and you rent at least 3 movies each time. You can subscribe for £20 a month or £90 for 6months. If you are sharing a flat this is a good idea to also share your dvd's! Find your dvd by making a choice between classics, experimentals, world cinema , documentaries. Open until 8:30pm every day.

I want to add to the previews above that It's only £10 per month and you can take as many videos / dvd's as you want, based on max of 3 for 3 days at a time. They say it is non profit making, so new stock is being bought all the time. My inimitable friend would be well satisfied with the collection of Charles Dickens films available, and respectful of the bigger collection of Shakespeare (of whom he was a great fan). They are in Brick Lane; do visit their website www.close-upvideos.com

Close-Up is, I believe, Shoreditch's only remaining video library. Located on Brick Lane in a tiny shop with love-worn old floorboards and an extraordinary selection of World, arthouse and cult films, Close-Up is the antithesis of your average Blockbuster type video rental place. Sometimes - like when searching for an obscure auteur piece during university - I have considered this a blessing; sometimes, like when I really, really just want to watch a romantic comedy, I think this a curse. If you're a true film buff you should definitely check Close-Up out for its range of hard to find films and sign up for its newsletter which will get you exclusive invites to Close-Up's screenings. But at £3 for new releases and non-new releases alike, Close-Up is not nearly as economical as various internet-based rental services.

This is by far my favourite video store in London. I have a very bad history with returning videos late, but due to the fact that Close up is literally thirty paces from my front door, I now return all movies on time. And that brings me much joy. What also gives me much joy is the store itself - it is magical. With lots of dark woods and DVDs from floor to ceiling sorted in various categories - by director, period, or genre - it is probably the best arthouse collection in London. And don't forget to go downstairs - the basement area is packed with films sorted by country, with television series, nostalgia, and so forth. The staff are also great in that fabulously 'Video-nerd' way, and always are happy to help. With great deals - about £30 for unlimited films a month I believe - it's phenomenal. I can't recommend it highly enough!

Thanks qype for helping me find this wonderful place. It's actually only £10 per month (not £20)as reported, and you can take as many videos/dvd's as you want, based on max of 3 for 3 days at a time. They say it is non profit making, so new stock is being bought all the time. My inimitable friend would be well satified with the collection of Charles Dickens available, and respectful of the bigger collection of Shakespeare (of whom he was a great fan). They are in Brick Lane; do visit their website http://www.close-upvideos.com

I was looking for something like that in London. Finally, I found hanging around Brick Lane a Sunday evening. It reminds me a similar dvd rental place in Madrid where I used to go. Currently, it's my spot in my day off. I really love it. I thing they have to update the Spanish films section though. However, the French one is quite wide.

Best film club in London. There's not a lot more to add. Incredible value for money as well, and knowledgeable staff.

A heaven for any film connoisseurs. At a price of 60£ for 6 months (3 films a day, you can share the cost with 2nd person/flatmate) nothing is stopping you to start renting.

close-up must be the most loved video rental outlet in london. you may not find many blockbusters, or cheesy comedies to take home, but it is the only one that would satisfy you if you are very literate in cinema. they have all sorted by directors or styles, so worth to give a try if you can't find that quirky first film of david lynch or soderbergh. while it is rather expensive, you can join for a month for 20£, so you can make it every other, partner up with some friends or anything else you can think of to make the most of it... as long as you don't keep more than three films at once... cool

Great price for so big collection of movies, only 10 pounds for monthly subscription. You can take 3 movies for 3 days which is great.