When a new film hits Hollywood, it's standard procedure to hit up your local showcase or view to see it on the big screen. But for those who consider themselves film fanatics, viewing the latest releases can be more of an event.
Bristol's Everyman is located on Whiteladies Road in Clifton and offers the perfect place to make film viewing that little bit more special. There are a few things that make Everyman not your average cinema, including their comfy mini sofa seats, their extensive drinks menu that includes cocktails and wines and hot food that they serve straight to your seat.
Their menu is rather extensive - including pizzas, burgers and hotdogs as well as more casual cinema snacks including popcorn, sweets and ice cream sundaes. However, it's also pricier than your regular Vue or Showcase.
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If you were to book a ticket to see Marvel's latest release, Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness an adult ticket would cost you £16. Considering you can grab showcase tickets for £5 or even tickets for the Deluxe cinema for around £11, this is undeniably steep.
The hot food carries standard price tags for its offerings with pizzas priced at around £6-7 and 'beef dogs' at £7.25 but of course, this isn't usually the food you'd enjoy on a cinema trip. The cocktail menu is relatively standard too, with drinks priced at around £8-9.
I visit the Everyman cinema a few times a year, usually for big film releases. They allow you to arrive earlier and order food to their lounge area to enjoy before the film, which allows you to make a trip out of your visit.
I decided to take to Whiteladies Road for the release of the latest Marvel film, with the aim of taking into account how much more a trip to the fancy cinema will cost you and if it's really worth the spend.
Usually, I arrive earlier and enjoy a pizza before the film however, having eaten my mum's homemade lasagne on this particular day, I didn't deem it necessary. Instead, I ordered a few snacks to my seat - a strawberry milkshake (which is an undeniably expensive £5.30), some cookie dough (£.3.50) and a small salted popcorn (£4.20).
The snacks came as the trailers played, whilst I sat comfortably in my cushioned sofa seat, the seats offer a small table on the arm rest so you don't have to hold it in your lap. The cinema also used to offer blankets however I believe this stopped due to COVID regulations.
I'm used to enjoying Everyman's culinary offerings and expected this time to be no different. However, sadly - it was.
I don't have any complaints about the popcorn but I suppose that's not much to commend. The milkshake however, especially considering it's price tag, was rather disappointing - not offering much of a strawberry flavour and all in all being pretty bland.
The most disappointing of all, the apparent cookie dough; cookie dough is a favourite desert of mine, with the creamy ice cream it usually comes with pairing well with the gooey hot dough. Whilst I couldn't get pictures, with phone flashes of course being banned in the screening, it didn't look all too appealing either.
However, Everyman's option was simply two cold cookies. The ice cream was nice enough but honestly the supposed cookie dough couldn't even be enjoyed, with a lot of it sadly going to waste.
If I wasn't a relatively regular visitor, this food offering would probably have put me off ever eating there again but instead, I'll stick to my usual pizza and perhaps a cocktail or glass of wine - if it's not a work night. And whilst the film tickets are steep, the comfy chair with extra space do make the trip a little special and who doesn't deserve a little luxury every once in a while?
