Dome Cinema Worthing
February 17th, 2008 4
Photo by Stagedoor
I like a trip to the cinema. The popcorn, the overpriced drinks, the sticky floor. But recently I’ve become a bit dishartend with the whole thing. I still like a good (or bad) film but something has been lacking in my cinema going experience.
That was until Katie took me to the Dome Cinema in Worthing. This place is what cinema’s should be (what they used to be) and a LOT more fun than your local 100 screen mega-max.
For a start there’s a friendly atmosphere, the staff are obviously enjoy their jobs (or at least act like they do). And the whole place just feels different - if cinemas could have the x-factor then this one would have it in spades.
Then there’s the bar - and the fact you can take your drinks in with you. A Big BIG plus from our point of view.
It just feels good to be in the building (no matter what film you’re watching) - like you’re having a real treat in an atmosphere of people who enjoy the same thing as you.
You know what? This sterile corporate shit really isn’t for me - we need more places like the Dome - it’s what makes Britain great!
4 Comments (+0 in the moderation queue).
#1 On February 17th, 2008 at 10:04 pm Paul Lloyd said...
A-ha! A different week, a different tone (one might say a slightly contradictory one…) but at least we can agree this time.
There was a similar cinema in Carlisle where I went to university. What it lacked in screens (it only had two) it made up for in character. They played both the general releases, and given the towns (arty) student contingent, held a number of specialist film nights. Talk about friendly, they were only too helpful in letting me spend a morning there with my camcorder when I needed to do some filming for a project.
I asked my friend Simon when I returned to Carlisle last month if it was still open. You don’t need me to tell you the answer.
These are the places that make Britain, not just great, but give it an identity - they make Britain, Britain. As you have demonstrate brilliantly here, not only do they make a night out more enjoyable (they provide a fuller experience), but people tend to think of them more fondly too. I don’t see anybody talk with much affection for the Showcase Cinema however…! It’s sad that such places are slowly getting replaced with Brand Name multiplexes that have as much character as Jack Sparrow (i.e. very little)
Ultimately it is us, Joe Public that are to blame. Cinemas offering cheaper tickets, more seats, bigger screens. Cheaper. More. Bigger. These the corporate hooks that tie bricks to the legs of our drowning society, one increasingly led to believe that price, size, amount are the only tangibles. Soon it will be too late, and we’ll be surrounded by cut and paste towns, lacking in any of the character they originally had.
Here’s a little challenge we should set ourselves. Let’s see if we can find somewhere similar in Walsall/Wolverhampton/Birmingham, and make it our ‘home’ cinema. Let us not just complain about this and move on, lets act and do something about it.
So Jon, will you join me and put your money where your mouth is?
#2 On February 18th, 2008 at 9:10 pm Paul Lloyd said...
Silence from the front row…
#3 On February 19th, 2008 at 5:47 pm Kris said...
I’d much prefer it if we could just go to the cheapest & closest cinema with more seats and bigger screens.
#4 On February 20th, 2008 at 4:02 pm KT said...
I think this place is awesome and its a far better experience than these big cineworld places.
Love it