Cinema information

To ensure a safe and comfortable experience, we are operating a phased reopening of our museum and cinemas.

Our Pictureville screen will reopen on Thursday 17 September 2020.

The IMAX and Cubby Broccoli screens will open on Friday 2 October 2020.

If your film is showing on our Pictureville screen, please enter through the link doors, either from Sharpe Street car park (behind the museum) or the path to the left of the main entrance of the museum.

If you are seeing a film on our Cubby Broccoli or IMAX screens, please enter through the main entrance at the front of the museum.

Please book your tickets online in advance.

All seating is unreserved.

On arrival, available seating will be clearly marked to ensure you are safely distanced from groups outside your household. For the safety of yourself and others, you and your group must sit in marked seats. Groups of 5+ may be required to sit in separate smaller groups.

In line with government guidance, we are using fresh air ventilation in our auditoria. This may cause the temperature to feel cooler than before, so you may want to bring an extra layer of clothing for comfort.

Pictureville Bar will be open from 15.30 every day for cinema customers. The bar will also be open before Kids’ Club and Thursday Silver Screen shows.

Other refreshments are available—please ask staff for details.

In line with government guidance, please wear a face covering in all areas of the cinema unless eating and drinking. This includes at the cinema box office and at the bar.

You may remove your face covering when seated with food or drink in the Pictureville Bar area and when eating and drinking in the cinema auditorium.

There will be new measures in place to ensure everyone can maintain social distancing. These include:

• Asking you to book tickets online in advance
• Socially distanced seating arrangements
• Specific routes to enter and exit the cinemas
• Installing screens at all main reception points, ticket desks and information points
• Offering hand sanitiser stations, including at key points such as entrances, exits, and high touch areas
• Scanning tickets using contactless e-scanners
• Asking you to make contactless payments where possible
• Additional signage

We have implemented enhanced cleaning regimes in line with government guidance. This will include (but is not limited to):  

• Increasing the numbers of cleaning operatives
• Increasing the cleaning regime in the theatres between screenings
• Focusing cleaning on high touch points such as seats, lift buttons and handrails

All active Pictureville Memberships were paused between 17 March and 17 September. We’ve added these six months to your expiry date, and as a thank you for your support during our temporary closure we’ve added an extra six months for free. Your Pictureville Membership will now expire 12 months after the original date.

To use your membership benefits online, make sure you are logged in to your account and choose the ‘Adult’ ticket. Your membership discount will automatically be applied when you reach the checkout page.

Read more about membership

Can I still purchase tickets in person?

Please book your tickets online in advance. Tickets will be available in person at Pictureville Bar but booking your ticket in advance helps us avoid queues and maintain safe distancing.

I can’t find a Silver Screen ticket option on the website

Make sure you are logged in to your account and choose the ‘60 & over’ ticket. If you are a Silver Screen Club member, the Silver Screen price will automatically be applied when you reach the checkout page.

I’ve tried to reset my password, but haven’t received any information

Please check your junk/spam folders within your email inbox to ensure that any communications haven’t been directed there.

I don’t need a wheelchair space but I need an aisle seat—how do I book this?

Our tickets are currently for unreserved seats. On arrival, available seating will be clearly marked to ensure you are safely distanced from groups outside your household. For the safety of yourself and others, you and your group must sit in marked seats. If you require an aisle seat please email us at pictureville@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk the day before the performance and we will try to accommodate your request. 

Can I receive my Silver Screen discount on more than one ticket?

No, you will only be able to purchase one ticket at the reduced Silver Screen price.

Can I sit with my friends?

Please sit in the marked available seats and only with members of your household or social bubble. Groups of 5+ may be required to sit in separate smaller groups.

When will Thursday morning screenings resume?

Thursday morning screenings will return from 24 September, but will look a little different due to our Covid-19 safety procedures. We are unable to offer complimentary refreshments, but they can be purchased at the bar. Our volunteer-led discussion groups have also been paused for a little while.

Will Pictureville Bar be open?

Yes, Pictureville Bar will open 30 minutes before the screening. 

Please note: Wheelchair spaces in our cinemas are temporarily reduced in order to help maintain social distancing.

Access to the museum from the front of the building is via a wheelchair-accessible entrance and automatic doors.

Pictureville Cinema 

• Wheelchair access to Pictureville Cinema requires use of a wheelchair lift. Please inform a member of Box Office staff if you need to use it.
• The cinema has one space for wheelchair users.
• Accessible toilets are located in Pictureville Bar, just outside the cinema.

Cubby Broccoli Cinema 

• Cubby Broccoli Cinema is located on Level 1. Wheelchair access requires use of the main museum lift. Please note that if you are visiting the cinema after the museum closes at 16.00, you will need to inform a member of Box Office staff if you require lift access.
• From the cinema doors, there is a ramped entrance/exit to the auditorium and seating for two wheelchair users.
• There are no toilets on Level 1—the nearest are on Level 0.
• The cinema doors require a code in order to be opened from the outside. If you need to leave the cinema during a film, you’ll need to inform a member of staff, so they can let you back in to the cinema.

IMAX 

• Wheelchair access to the IMAX cinema is via a special entrance on Level 5. If you need to use this entrance, please speak to a member of our Box Office team, who will be able to help you.
• Two spaces for wheelchair users are located on the balcony. There are accompanying seats alongside.
• Accessible toilets are available on Level 5. If you need to leave the cinema during a film, you’ll need to inform an usher, so they can ensure the Level 5 door is open to let you back in to the cinema.

Hearing loop systems are fitted in all three cinemas. To access the system, you will need to turn your hearing aid to the ‘T’ position.

We offer subtitles (closed captioning) for selected screenings. Check the Pictureville Cinema listings for the latest screenings, or call us on 0800 047 8124 for more information.

Assistance dogs are welcome at the museum. If you wish to take your dog into one of our cinemas, please let our Box Office staff know when booking so that an aisle seat can be reserved. Our cinema staff will be happy to provide drinking water for your dog.

Large print film schedules are available from the Box Office. Just ask a member of staff when you arrive at the museum.

We offer audio description for selected screenings. Check the Pictureville Cinema listings for the latest screenings, or call us on 0800 047 8124 for more information.

The nearest toilets to Pictureville Cinema are in Pictureville Bar, just outside the entrance to the cinema. These include an accessible toilet.

The nearest toilets to Cubby Broccoli Cinema are on Level 0.

The nearest toilets to IMAX are on Level 0, just outside the main entrance to the cinema. They include accessible toilets and baby changing areas.

There are also toilets on Level 3 and Level 5.