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Residents of East Dulwich have long hankered after a cinema, and the launch of this branch of the Picturehouse chain – on the site of a former church hall – finally and definitively scratches that communal itch. Instead of a tea urn and biscuits, there are now three screens showing plenty of arthouse choices, plus an already buzzing licensed café and terrace.
The complete refurbishment of the building took months longer than predicted, but the result is impressive. In the café, original features such as soaring arched windows and skinny wooden floorboards are pointed up by (tasteful) tartan upholstery, a contemporary metal-and-glass chandelier, and a feature wall of wooden tablets that name-check the cinema’s ‘founder’ members.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all chain: for East Dulwich, the seasonal menu of fancified comfort food competes with the area’s restaurants and makes great use of new-season lamb from the butcher up the road, and even claims herbs from the café’s roof garden (now a de rigueur accessory for any self-respecting London opening). East Dulwich’s many kids can tuck into reasonably priced mini dishes such as beef-and-mozzarella sliders ahead of baby- and toddler-friendly screenings.
Aware that Oddono’s, opposite, has already cornered the ice-cream market in these parts, the cinema has chosed to sell alcohol-laced ice creams from Drunken Dairy instead. As for proper booze, there are ten wines (including a Chapel Down sparkler) all available by the glass, plus cocktails. This all-singing, all-dancing offering was worth the wait.