Ritzy Cinema and Cafe

Went to a q+a screening of Anatomy of a Fall here. Screen 1 is so grand and beautiful! Chairs are comfortable, space is big. The lobby is gorgeous too. Honestly the whole building is stunning and worth at least one visit. Only complaint is that the walls are so SO thin. During the film screening I could hear cars honking and beeping and ambulance sirens from the main road. Honestly it took me a minute to realise that the noise wasn’t coming from the movie lol but when i didn’t i couldn’t stop hearing it. It’s actually shocking how loud the sound were. Not sure why the main screen hasn’t been sound proofed, can only speculate that it may be because it’s a grade II listed building. Not really that big of a deal though if you’re not an audiophile and also if you’re going to watch a loud marvel type blockbuster haha.

Saw a quiet matinee here and had a lot of fun. The snacks were good (I got vegan mint chip ice cream) and it was nice to have the bar in the same building since I got there an hour early. They have a nice selection of movies available. Also really convenient location in Brixton.

UPSTAIRS Free reggae events monthly. #Dub Me Always sound with resident DJ and visiting live acts and DJs. Nice speakeasy venue with open air balcony. On the 1st floor a small bar, great for a date or drinks/coffee. Cinema with special showings with Club deals

The place is so run down now and dirty. The bathrooms I wouldn’t use, and screen 3 absolutely stinks of piss. It’s a shame and disappointing because the ritzy used to be a nice evening out. Hard to reconcile the high ticket prices with a venue that I can’t comfortably go to the loo in, the screens are filthy and the bar area just isn’t worth the visit. The staff are very friendly tho!

Ritzy is a great cinema with a nice variety of films to go see. The seats are comfy. The snacks are a bit disappointing and the salty popcorn is under-salted and bit overpriced. Lovely cinema but avoid wasting money on the snacks

They played us a different movie in the beginning and it’s ok to make a mistake but the sound was so awful that we couldn’t hear ANYTHING from the movie when the actors were speaking except when there was a song which was extremely disturbing. It was so quiet that we were embarrassed to eat popcorn, to drink and move! This is not the first time we go to the Picturehouse cinemas and it seems that they are all like this. Unfortunately we will not go to this cinema anymore. Very poor sound…

Saw “Late Night with the Devil” here, thoroughly enjoyed the film. Customer service was good. BUT that price is ludicrous. £15.50! For ONE TICKET. I wish this movie was on my local where it is £5.99 a ticket. Won’t be attending this cinema again unless they address the pricing structure because that is a total rip off.

Ritzy is accessible but you will still need assistance to both enter the cinema itself and then to enter whatever screen you are going to. The more positive experience is that most if the staff are very friendly and helpful.

Beautiful art deco theatre with a great programme. I watched Richard Ayoade present a Truffaut movie here once, and also saw an artist showcase in the bar upstairs. Both were great. Seats are comfy, the bar is also great. Best time is in the summer when you can porch out front facing the Windrush Square.

30 minutes of ads on a movie I paid full price for, seriously? I am never coming back to this dump. Ridiculous.

I went on a date at The Ritzy once, the man in question turned up late and really, really stoned but the cinema was lovely and has since become one of my favourite places to watch films. It's a picture house cinema which means that along side blockbusters they show independent and art house films and are often host to international film festivals. Providing your date isn't of complete waste man caliber, it's also very romantic. The main screen is an old theatre with lots of red, plush seats, high ceiling with fancy ornamental gold bits all over it. They also have a fully stocked bar and sell all the best kinds of ice cream and home made cakes which is useful if your date has the munchies.

One of the best cinemas in town. The main screen is as good as any multiplex and the other screens from medium to tiny are great too, especially when you're watching independent films they can be really intimate. Add to that the fact that you can buy alcoholic drinks to take in to the film and it's a win/win. The main bar downstairs is really nice, with great outdoor seating which is probably the best for people watching in Brixton. Up-Stairs at the ritzy is a much more intimate space for a drink or coffee and has some great music and performance nights, often linked to film, well worth checking out. The Ritzy also puts on some great film festivals and similar events, has special screenings for parents with young children, the visually-impaired, etc. and really tries to be part of the local community. Finally, if you find yourself here and at any of the other PictureHouse cinemas in London with any degree of regularity then a membership card is WELL worth the 30 odd quid it costs (it's even better value if you are a concession or get a joint membership). It gets you three free tickets (which pretty much pays for the membership alone) plus £2 off every other ticket you buy during the year, the quarterly guide posted to you and 10% off drinks and food at the bar and counter. Add to all that the fact that Brixton is one of the most vibrant parts of London and you have to say that it's pretty hard to beat the Ritzy for an afternoon or evening out.

******NEW REVIEW, NEW LOW RATING!****** I've only just got over a bout of food poisoning from the Ritzy cinema on Sunday morning, the 27th of Feb 2011. As it was the only meal my husband and I shared all weekend that was different, it must've been the eggs florentine that caused me such agony all Sunday night and Monday (which resulted in me taking a day off work, unpaid). But regardless of some dodgy eggs, before the dish had even come out of the kitchen I'd vowed never to return. I love supporting local indie businesses (as you can see from the other businesses I've reviewed on Qype previously), but Ritzy cafe, you are dead to me. I'll still continue going to the cinema (I am a member, after all), but I am so fed up with the consistently low standards in service I've been dealt with twice recently. A couple of months ago, on a Saturday morning, my husband and I both ordered fried breakfasts -- one meat, one veggie. His arrived after about 20 mins (already too long, if you ask me), and by the time he'd finished eating his, mine still hadn't arrived. Sick of training to catch the eye of waiters who were steadfastly avoiding our table, I actually had to go to the counter to ask where my breakfast was. The hungover waiter sloped off to check, but I didn't hear anything for at least another five minutes. A long time when you're fuming (and hungry). Eventually, we gave up, once we realised about four tables around us had received their breakfasts before mine arrived -- even though they'd sat down after us. So we demanded the money back for my breakfast, and left. This past Sunday it was a similar story, with my eggs florentine turning up about a minute after the husband had finished his fried breakfast. I'd already asked one waiter to check on my breakfast, and he wandered off without even an apology -- seriously, are all of the Ritzy cafe's staff hungover or stoned?! -- and after he didn't return, we had to ask another passing waitress. She went off and eventually found the eggs, but by then the damage was done. I was fuming mad (again), and it completely ruined our morning. So guess what, Ritzy cafe? You've lost yourself two customers. And I'll be telling all my friends about the food poisoning, too. ****Original review, from January 2009, of the original cafe above the cafe I just vowed never to return to:**** Everyone knows and loves the cinema (and bar) at Brixton Ritzy, but did you know there's an amazing little cafe tucked a few floors up, by screen 4? It spills over two levels, and has views of Brixton from the tall windows. Everything is very well priced, from coffees and teas, to lunches, dinners and desserts. The pancakes are an absolute must, with both savoury and sweet being offered. A nice touch is that the savoury pancakes are named after cool indie films - try the 'Spirited Away', it's the best. It's a really great atmosphere, full of bright colours, potted plants, and lots of people poring over newspapers and meeting friends over a lazy coffee and bite to eat. You don't even have to be watching a film afterwards - it's a great cafe in its own right, and so well priced too.

ATMOSPHERE, STYLE, SCREENS is what I'm talking about Atmosphere: If you're looking for quirky, arthouse, retro, chilled out indy feel with a nice cafe and small selection of snacks - then this is for you - if your looking for big action multiplex - just no. Screens: 1(as in 1 of them - i can't remember the screen number) is really really pretty, think converted theatre, and the rest are like the old screens I used to go to before the multiplex was built. These days I feel like those screens are essentially like going over to your mates whose put a projector up - at that point you're actually just paying to see it early and the cinematic experience is lost - dependant on what you enjoy as a cinematic experience. Now... I'm short - so I stress this very much. i refuse to go to this cinema when its peak hours - or its just released the film - The only circumstance I personally go are - the pretty screen, daytime, been out a few weeks - and then I can guarantee a good seat without someone sitting in front of me, otherwise, i could have paid to go to a multiplex with better tiered sitting and see the whole film. So the pay off for the poor screens and tiering is the atmosphere. and The cost of tickets - is hoping you sit on that end of the spectrum that likes the arty, coffee house, retro feel. Oh and its right by Brixton station (5minute rushed walk - if you're late) Outdoor seating is pleasant - but it is those horrible lightweight metal seats, and on the main road - but the tree makes it nicer. The main selling factor - Bar - you can take alcohol into the cinema! I mean! If only it could guarantee me to be able to see!

I'm updating my review, because last night, and for the second time, I've popped out of the cinema screen to find the downstairs bar at the Ritzy shut. I then had to go upstairs to order drinks and, the same as last time, there was a queue so by the time I got served, slowly, I'd missed 5 mins of the film. Last night they also gave me glasses which, as I walked back into the screen, a cinema employee tutted and said "uh, glass..." The seats in screen 4 are also hardly tiered at all so not only did I struggle to see all of the screen behind the guy in front of me but my 6 foot boyfriend struggled too. The screen also has no air con so was pretty warm. Generally this is a great cinema but they need to remember they're a cinema first and foremost, not a bar, and keep the main bar near the screens open till all the films are over instead of making people traipse upstairs.

Great place to watch the latest 3D Pixar wallet-buster or even sedate enough to go outside and have a cool drink with hot friends. A lot of money's been spent clearing up the area - ie pushing the pushers to the side streets - resulting in a clean and consistent cinematic experience. As a result, it's a great place to see the latest films and a haven for indie premieres, when they're most likely to have director speaking about his/ her work, live and direct. My advice for snacks is this. The popcorn's pricey, so walk down to the indoor market popcorn stall next to H&M and buy a whole bag of the sweet stuff for a £1. It tastes better, is fresher and you get the same amount as the large box in the cinema. There are also an abundance of supermarkets too, so you'll know where to pick up your drinks. Some might consider me a cheeky cheapo - i wouldn't necessarily disagree! - but hey, i'm a working dude! Anyway, in these regressive economic times, every penny counts, especially when you have popcorn-hungry kids in tow!

A great little picture house that shows a selection of British and European films. Whats so nice about this place is that they hold events and independent film festivals at the venue and have talks with actors and directors in the cafe. I see this place as a gem in Brixton, a creative hub set against the high street of chain stores and 24hour convenience shops. If you are looking for somewhere great to spend the evening...pop in here, any film lover won't be disappointed.

Picturehouse cinemas just do it for me. They tick my boxes. And I'm a picky bugger. I like the cutesy intimate screens, I'm a fan of their indie films and documentaries listings, I've attended Q&A sessions with directors and I've found time for drinks and snacks in their delightful cafe. I'm a member too - reduced prices, no booking fee and a shed load of discounts and inside scoops. The council has recently completely done over the area outside the cinema so it's even more an appealing place to go hangout. The Ritzy; It's not just for films, it's for life.

I love this place! It's not just a cinema, it's an experience. Before The Ritzy was the stylish cinema it is now, it was a theatre and it made the clever decision to keep many of its original features, such as the old seats with big arm rests, the little bumper seats for kids or people vertically challenged, the curtains that open at the beginning of the film, with a 50's 'please don't smoke sign' and all the golden glamour that comes with a building which such history. It will show all the modern releases but will also show arty unique films and my favourite..... it holds audiences with the actors and the directors of the films, the last one I went to was with Uma Thurman talking about her recent film. The Ritzy is pure class and turns a regular activity, like going to the pictures into something you will remember. Top tip: when Harry Potter films are released they do little bags of sugared snakes! They are Amazing!

Oh, the Ritzy is my kind of cinema. With not many screens, they manage to show everything and then some, keeping funky shows running for ages. Yes, it's a chain, but it's a tiny wee chain. And you can get a drink. And they have family/baby hour. They even (and this is what for me gave the coveted 5th star), have an autistic screening, where the volume is down and the lights are only dimmed. How community can you get? OK, you might get a white guy with dreadlocks selling your ticket or making your popcorn, but hey, the popcorn's good, the tickets are cheap, and the films are top-notch. Not just arthouse, but blockbuster, too. And eight minutes' walk from my front door. Lurvely.

I rarely rate cinemas, but this one is definitely worth visiting. Just a stone's throw away from Brixton underground station, the Ritzy Picturehouse is a stylish theatre that allows you to drink in the cinema! They're quite relaxed about food/drink, and many people even brought in snacks from the nearby Sainsbury's. The seats are very comfortable and the screen was huge. My only complaint was that our film was delayed by 20 minutes. (A film? Delayed? Yes... odd.) I believe one staff member informed the crowd of the delay before we were allowed in the theatre, but they did not address the inconvenience afterward. I think a small compensation for the movie-goers would've been nice; however, I don't believe this Indie theatre has that level of customer-service capacity. Even with the film starting 20 minutes late, this will definitely be my go-to theatre from now on.

The Ritzy is by far my favourite cinema in London which not only provides a bar, other entertainment upstairs such as board games and music but also their marvelous food. It is a world away from the booming commercial soulless cinemas that lurk on the high-streets of England, that tout brands and advertising at every step. The Cinema is in an old school screen room/ theater which has several auditoriums, 2 bars, a separate box office and a counter where you can purchase cinema snacks and soft drinks. The food is a mixture of Gastro pub delights and pizzas which never fail to please, with very affordable prices. Sadly the bar/food area is fairly limited due to the actual size of the building and the cinemas popularity with the locals as a place to chill out. This means you have to jostle for a table in the evenings but you can usually sit down within about 15 minutes (most people are having a drink waiting for a film to start). But in the summer, this area triples in size with the outdoor seating available which often spills over into Windrush square, allowing people to drink and bask in the intermittent sunshine. The Ritzy provides a sanctuary at all times of day, whether you just want a coffee and a chat with friends in the afternoon, or a drink before a film or a meal in the evening. The atmosphere is most definitely casual as with most places in Brixton, it can get quite noisy but I think that is part of the charm.

There's a very romantic feel about going to an independent cinema. It feels almost like your stepping back in time to an era where the most exciting cinema snack was plain popcorn or chocolate and a fizzy drink. As far as independent cinemas go, this ranks pretty high, the ticket price is a little higher than one of the chains but its worth it. For a 5 screen cinema there are a good selection of mainstream and independent films. Screen 1 boasts truly stunning architecture. A wonderful old picture house with high arches and plush red velvet decor. The other scrrens are fine but no where near as ornate. Which, I guess when going to watch a film, doesn't really matter, I'm just a sucker for a pretty alcove! The bar area is another selling point, unlike many of the chain bars that are attached to the more well known cinemas, this is quiet and cosy and feels like you can actually sit and have a relaxing drink before the movie, and you can take the drink in. Bonus! If you haven't booked and are going to see a new release or popular film you need to get there early as the seating areas aren't massive. Enjoy!

Another great Picture house! These are what cinemas used to be before they went all commercial! Small screens, old velvet seats, a bar and cafe (you can take your drink into the movie!) and there are usually jazz bands playing in the cafe bit. Great views of Brixton, perfect for sipping coffee/wine and people/Brixton watching! Recommend!

Cheap-ish and with a bar, the Ritzy makes something of a change from regular multiplexes. But, to be honest, I can't get hysterically excited about it, perhaps because it's just that bit further from me than some other options, or because it still has that big cinema feel ?

Comfy seats and many indie movies and not too far from where I live = win. I was taken to the Ritzy before I moved to London while on a date. A stellar choice, really. It's lovely. And a beautiful cinema makes beautiful movies all the more enjoyable to see. Yeah, Brixton may not be my favorite place to hang out at night, but this place is great. Good snacks and drinks and a relaxed feel about the place. I haven't been recently, but I really need to get back to a screening there. It's delightful.

My favourite picture house in London (so far). It's set back from the corner so you can't miss its massive old-school marquee listing its name and show times. A little plaza area out front gives it the space away from the bustling streets it deserves - this is a diva, a queen of picture houses and you better make a wide berth and recognise, my friends. A café set apart from the ticket/popcorn buying makes it feel more legit as a drinking/eating venue destination. A met a friend here who I hadn't seen in a long time, and the set up meant we could meet on site, get a cup of coffee or a glass of wine without leaving the building, catch up for an hour or so, then stroll into our theatre for show time. Big windows and patio tables also make this feel more like a café - instead of being in a darkened club-like atmosphere of Clapham Picture House or Prince Charles Cinema. We lucked out with getting screen 1 and I was floored when we walked in, gorgeous setting, absolutely prefect. Sound quality was good. OK, one pretty big gripe that has more to do with management than the venue itself. I believe this is owned by the same company as Clapham PH, and I have to stress my absolute LOATHING of both of them doing 20-30 minutes of commercials AFTER show start time. WTF? Fine, we've all gotten used to the 15 minutes of film trailers after show time. But straight up adverts? If you want to plug Orange or Nissan or Barclays or whatever, fine, do it as people gather in their seats in the 15 minutes leading up to the show start time -- you still get a fairly captive audience. But do not subject people who have PAID money for their ticket to half an hour of adverts. I did not pay money to watch commercials, end of story. Maybe this is a trade-off and how they make up the difference for showing older/indie/obscure films, docs. In which case, damn it, I have no response to that except the masses need to place more value on these kinds of films over the no-brainer action/rom-com drivel. Whew, I feel much better. Walk-able from Brixton Tube or take the bus from Clapham Junction (15 minutes). £10.50 for a single on a Saturday night

Go to see the main film showing at the Ritzy Picturehouse and it is well worth the entrance fee. The main screen is housed in a large, old theatre hall with wonderfully high ceilings and architectural details. Although for most of the time you are sat there in the dark, somehow the setting makes you feel special in a romantic kind of way. Then comes the disappointment. Having experienced the grandness of Screen One, my heart sinks each time I am instructed to make my way to one of the other four, standard, plain auditoria. I have no complaints about them, it is just that once you have experienced the best it is difficult for anything else to compare. But stop off in the stylish foyer bar or bar/café upstairs and all those troubles will quickly disappear.

Situated on the top floor of the Ritzy cinema- this little bar often has live acts playing- we caught a great Jazz band playing on Saturday night. The prices are reasonable and the staff are friendly and laid back. There's a roof terrace overlooking Brixton looking towards the Mass which is a great place for a drink on a sunny day and an easy place for smokers to go on an evening out. Combined with one of the best independent cinemas in London, the Ritzy cafe really adds to the cultural attractions in Brixton and is well-worth popping into just to see if anything's going on!

Nice cinema. Lot of character inside and outside. The staff are incredibly friendly too. It's pushing 4 stars easily. But I based rating on screen we saw. It was no.3 or 4 but the seats were really cramped. Again it's a great cinema but I guess unless it's a main screen it's not as perfect as say a Picturehouse.

If any of you have been keeping up with my blogs on the Qype London blog (http://london.blog.qype.com/) , you'll notice that I'm on the hunt for coffee shops or cafes with free wireless and coffee for a decent price! A hard ehh! Especially in London...well my review of the Ritzy cafe inside the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton is really positive. The cafe itself is spread over 2 floors, with a balcony for the warm weather, yeah! It's also light and airy, which makes an enjoyable environment for all the media types floating around. The wireless actually works quite well. There's the odd hitch here and there, where the wireless goes a bit wonky (but hey... What wireless connection doesn't?) Plugs are available to plug your laptop into and a decent sized mocha costs £1:50!

Good little cinema, obviously gets bonus points for being independent (well, part of the picturehouse group), but it shows very good, interesting stuff and isn't too expensive. The bar is nice, can't say I've eaten there (yet) or been to an event, but I'd like to and that's got to count for something, right? They have a membership scheme which works out as a very good deal, with discounts galore.

A really nice period cinema with the laid-back vibe I love and a number of screens. If you can see a film on the main screen it is worth it has lots of period features as it was the main screen before all the extra little screening rooms were added. Recently they have reconfigured the building to have a separate café / bar with its own separate entrance. The cafe in itself a good idea but it falls down in a couple of ways, because it is another entrance to the building people use it to come into the cinema which makes it like sitting in a drafty corridor, second the service though well intentioned, is not up to much, in our trip there were faulty tills and food brought to us cold. Pity, because the café is really good idea, in the end, following them letting customers jump the queue ahead of us, we left and went to another café around the corner

If you know Brixton, you'll know The Ritzy, as it lies at the heart of Brixton cultural life. Very lucky to have such a good cinema on the doorstep! Great bars as well. Good atmosphere and special screeenings for children on Saturdays and mother and baby viewing as well, OAP specials and cheap nights on a Monday! Very community spirited. Great staff. I think it's reallly important who you go to a film with - not just the person you came with but the crowd who is seeing with you at the same time. It makes or breaks an experience. And here you'll find a lot of intelligent, witty people who get jokes in films. I say that because that is not always the case. The best for this though has got to be The Princes of Wales cinema offLeicester Sq. Quite well selected films. Just wish they played more of the real old cinema classics.

The last film I saw at the Ritzy Cinema of Brixton was Evil Dead a remake from the 1980s horror classic. They also showcased the Q&A session, right after the actual film itself together with the Uruguayan film director, Fede Alvarez and the Suburgatory actress from California, Jane Levy. The UK Film Premiere & Gala Screening with Q&A session of Evil Dead took place in Brixton, south London on Tuesday, 16-April-2013 and I must say it really went down well.

Indeed, a fabulous cinema - one of the best in London, I'd say. Cheap tickets, great and varied selection of films, and lots of events on throughout the week. There's a very charming cafe/bar with live music (for free!) from Wednesday to Sunday - some pretty interesting acts, too - and on Saturdays there's a little arts and crafts market downstairs. Pretty good place to go for a drink too, especially in the summer - you can sit out on the little terrace overlooking the square and the town hall and watch the standard Brixton craziness unfold.

Great theater and the cafe is lovely as well! The only problem with the cafe is that it claims to have free wifi but they shut it off at 7pm when a band started playing. Not sure if this is regular or not but definitely a word of warning if you're looking to be connected there.

With the bar and cafe attached, The Ritzy is more than just a cinema that plays independent films in addition to the more mainstream. It's a great cinema, particularly the stepping-back-in-time feel of screen one, but it's very much in need of some rennovation. The springs in the seats have gone so much it feels like you're sitting on the floor, and nobody likes sticky carpets! They have live jazz in the bar too and are in the Orange Wednesdays scheme too.

The Ritzy is in Coldharbour Lane; turn left as you exit the Tube and walk for about 2 minutes. One advantage here is the price: £4.50 weekdays; £6.50 other times, and a very good £2.50 for children under 16. Although this may seema lot, it is one of the cheapest cinemas in London. The food is well priced, with a snack stall, a full bar, and a cafe, open till late. The decor is plush, with curtains and comfy red seats, like a theatre.

It's a great venue in the centre of Brixton. I hope the preserve it for years to come as the building is fantastic. It's sad that the modern multiplex are impacting on such beautiful landmarks. It's easy to access from the tube stop as it's only a short walk away. It's run by the Picture House chain so you can expect a mixture of mainstream and art house cinema. They generally have about seven or so different films showing per day.

If you are a local, I would highly recommend joining the Ritzy - it is basically free as it gives you complimentary tickets as part of membership. Personally, I think the food in the upstairs cafe is terrible. But perhaps I had a bad pizza experience.

CINEMA: 4 stars CAFE: 3 stars As a cinema, I have had a 13-year hot-cold relationship with the Ritzy. The cinema has felt unloved over the last few years, which is a shame because it used to be a great place. I went again recently though and it looked like they had done some refurb because the seats were more comfy and the floors weren't covered with toxic waste like before. Hopefully this is a sign that things are back on the right track. The Cafe is OK, not anything to write home about and a little pricey for what you get... the portions at lunchtime were meagre and the service a little chaotic. But if you are stuck for a place to go, you could do worse.

This cinema is a proper old-school Picture House with fab plasterwork ceilings and proper comfy seating. It's just at the end of the road from the tube station so really handy to get to. There's a limited choice of films as there aren't many screens but it always has a good selection and sometimes hosts cool events too (Tarantino was there recently) The cafe is cool and funky and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable out film. The only problem is that it's not that easy to book in advance.

Forget about the giant multiplex cinema with millions of screens, crowds lining up to see the latest action movie, where you can get stale popcorn, overpriced nachos served with plastic cheese or disgusting hot dogs which don't even get served with onions. Seriously put that all aside and prepare yourself for journey into the past. This intimate cinema has got character, great decor and a lot of history. Or shall I say the picture house? Even the name is so vintage, so old-fashioned. Ritzy belongs to the 'picturehouse' family which is a chain of independent cinemas across London and the UK. And like its indie brothers, it offers very different movie experience to what you may be accustomed to. Since it used to be a theatre long time ago, it has kept all the theatrical glamour which is mostly visible in the biggest screen - number one. Retro dimmers along the wall, red curtain, stage to mention but few details that make this place special. There is also a cool bar upstairs that turns into a live music venue most evenings. The area that used to be the cinema box office and the foyer has recently been converted into a smart cafe where you can chill out or grab something to eat. In the summer, tables get put outside so the cinema goes can enjoy fine views of the Lambeth town hall or windrush square. Unlike other cinemas, all the film times are written on a blackboard. Yes a proper blackboard. I feel sorry for the staff that need to refresh that board everyday... What I love the most about this place is the fact that it shows the best movies in town. World cinema, indie, art house, you name it. Ritzy is always one of the few places in London showing something different than the usual multiplex pulp. And what is even more amazing, is that you can drink alcohol in the screens! If that is not convincing enough, then where else will you find live Q&A screenings with filmmakers, opera transmissions or special half-term events screening old-school cartoons like Tom and Jerry? You can only love this place. All round great cinema experience.

The Ritzy in Brixton is a Picture House Cinema. Built in 1910, it retains almost all of its original character and has survived several attempts to demolish it. Its one of the largest independent specialist cinemas in the country, has five screens and the amazingly comfy, high backed chairs make it feel more like watching a film at home in your living room. Good films, art house, world cinema as well as blockbusters. Last night I watched the new bond film, being 241 Orange Wednesday there was a massive queue (so get there early!) but we managed to get seats in screen 1. A truly beautiful room with high ceiling arches and ornate decoration around the screen itself. Going to the cinema was once a big occasion, like going to the theatre, and it seems a shame that the excitement and grandness of old cinemas has been removed and replaced by chains like the Odeon. When the curtains closed during the interval between the adverts and the film, I was waiting for the Ice cream lady to stand in the aisle. Remember that? There was even a notice reminding us it was a no smoking cinema. Oh and by the way, the café and bar are a good reason to visit the Ritzy in itself, you can even take your drink into the cinema!!

When going to the cinema, The Ritzy is always my number one choice: it's independent, local and best of all it serves homemade cakes and tea that you can take into the cinema with you. If you fancy something stronger then alcohol is also an option. In an age of cinemaplexes serving simply popcorn, pick and mix and nachos at silly prices, the Ritzy's break from the norm is refreshing and charming. Added to that, it's a wonderful building with an impressive theatre frontage with films listed in red lettering above the neon ritzy sign that's a definite Brixton landmark. It's full of character, which it's gathered in its close-to-100-year history, especially the main screen which is located in an old theatre hall. The other four screens are distinctly less special but nevertheless worth the visit for the rest of the cinema's merits. And it's not just about the films, the Ritzy also has a great bar downstairs and cafe serving food upstairs, which host regular live events and talks, usually priced at nothing. These are worth a visit in themselves regardless of whether or not you fancy a film. And if a film is what you want then you'll find a varied selection including more marginal art house and world cinema options as well as the usual blockbusters. Special screenings also take place and this year it took part in the London Film Festival, hosting a weekend of films. Orange Wednesdays 2-4-1 offers are also accepted, which is what I'm about to go and do now!

The main cinema is beautiful, it's similar to the electric light cinema in Notting Hill (the best cinema in London). It's got a really nice bar too, I would advise booking your seats online on a Friday or Saturday night. You can also take alcohol in with you (although I'm on detox at the moment so I didn't)

Super nice cinema. There's a bar next to the screen room. Staff were really cool. All kinds of drinks and snacks, popcorn and all that. The only negative is that it was very cold in the screen room, I had to use my coat as a blanket haha. But all good apart from that.

Go here for a nice evening in a cool cinema. Schedule both normal cinema and independents, as well as bring back from oldies too! Very cool building with good selection of snacks and a bar!

Shabby chic before such a term even existed, the Ritzy is a super spot for catching a flick. The price of movie here is cheaper than at most and the selection is decent. Cushy seats are plush as well.The bar's brilliant for a pre-movie meet up as well.

The Ritzy is a great little independent cinema. The space is also used by local artists and film-makers to exhibit their work. There is a concessionary schemes for those on low income and disabled. There is also Mummy & Baby screenings for popular films where the buggy brigade are activelly welcomed! There are lots of fantastic free kooky postcards distributed in the foyer as well which you can help yourself to. This also takes on the guise of a music venue in the evenings and on the weekend you can dance a salsa whilst supping a rum&coke after watching a late night film.

What a great cinema! It shows a great mix of films ad is located right in the heart of Brixton. Screen 1 surprised me as it is more like a plush theatre than a cinema. Comfortable seats and plenty of space, a great sound system and great quality picture. I'll definitely be going back.

Fun, quirky cinema and love that there's a cozy bar, but the screens are quite small and tickets aren't that cheap (still cheaper than Leicester Square though!). Also was hoping there'd be less commercials but still sat through +20 minutes of commercials and previews.

Went for drinks after the movie. Nice relaxing place. Didn't have any food, but what our neighbour tables were having looked good :-)

Shame that this cinema is so far away from home as it's easily one of the best independant cinemas in london. There are always loads of great edgy independant films being played at the Ritzy anytiome of the week, the bar is great, the staff are friendly, and the food is goodBrixton is also very entertaining to navigate of an evening.

I commuted past this cinema for ages without ever going, assuming that the slightly shabby exterior indicated that it was a rundown fleapit. In fact it is an excellent independent cinema with competent projection and sound (which is depressingly rare nowadays), a nice bar (you can even take drinks into the screenings) and a great café on the upper level. Strongly recommended. I wish it was still my local cinema.

The Ritzy is great! great selection of blockbusters mixed with independent films. Nice pub and grub if you want to hang out before or after. This is where I want to go for movies.

Quirky little cinema, benefits from a cheap ticket night on a monday where tickets are £6ish instead of the usual !10 and if you book online you can print of an eticket at home so that theres no queing for the box office or ticket collection machines when you arrive, we went straight from work and just rocked up straight to the screen with no faffing with queues. A splendid way to spend a monday evening