Rio Cinema in Kingsland High St, London

Rio Cinema Kingsland High St, London

Rio Cinema Kingsland High St Address:

107 Kingsland High St, London E8 2PB, UK

Phone: +44 20 7241 9410

Email:

Business hours:

No. of screens at Rio Cinema in Kingsland High St: 400 seat capacity
Large stage (27 by 11 feet)
State of the art digital projection facilities
35 mm projection
Dolby sound
Fully licensed bar/cafe

No. of seats:

View Map here

Rio Cinema official website: http://riocinema.org.uk/RioCinema.dll/Home

Rio Cinema – Movie showtimes in Kingsland High St, London – Updated on 25th August 2018

Facilities available at Rio Cinema
Transport and Parking
Technical Adjustments
Cinema Exhibitors’ Association Card (CEA card)

Rio Cinema – Parking Fee

About Rio Cinema
OUR HISTORY
The Rio has a rich history stretching back over 100 years.
The original building was an auctioneer’s shop owned by a pioneering business woman called Clara Ludski. She converted it into one of London’s very first cinemas in 1909, and called it the Kingsland Palace. The venture was so successful that Ludski bought up the properties on each side of the building, and commissioned the architect George Coles to design a new, bigger single-screen picturehouse.
Construction began in 1913, and the Kingsland Empire opened in 1915. There was a two-level tea room, domed tower, and an elaborate auditorium with stalls and a steep circle, featuring five side arches and a proscenium with double columns either side, topped by a frieze and lifesized statues. It was a lot more theatrical than most cinemas of that date.
With the arrival of sound in the 1930s, the cinema changed hands. In 1933 it was bought and managed by London & Southern Cinemas Ltd, then in 1936 was taken over by Capital & Provincial News Theatres, who realised that the configuration of the Empire was looking dated and unsuitable for modern audiences. It was they who commissioned the cult architect FE Bromige to refurbish the cinema in Art Deco style in 1937. Bromige is noted for his outlandish and remarkable designs in several North London cinemas (many of which survive to this day). Here, he created a new auditorium within the shell of the earlier cinema. English Heritage say this is highly unusual. Through a secret door on the Rio’s roof, we can still peer into the ‘void’ and see the ghostly remains of the Kingsland Empire – the ceiling and upper walls of the original 1915 auditorium. So when you sit in the Rio to watch a film, you are actually sitting inside two nested auditoriums.
Since 1937, Bromige’s wonderful Art Deco interiro and exterior has remained almost unchanged. The parapet was reduced in 1944, but otherwise the cinema has remained as you see it today.
In the 1950s and 1960s the building became part of the Classic chain, and then in the early 1970s it took on yet another guise as a Tatler Cinema Club showing ‘adult’ films.
Luckily, in April 1976 things changed yet again, and the Rio as we know it today was born. An independent cooperative took over, and since 1979 it has been run as a not-for-profit registered charity with an elected board of local people who act as volunteer trustees.
The blue and pink Art Deco interior was restored in 1997, remaining faithful to Bromige’s design, and the building became Grade II listed by English Heritage in 1999.
In 2012, Board member Laurian Davies led a petition of thousands of people to ask Transport for London to recognise the Rio as a major local landmark, and TfL changed the name of the bus stop outside the building to ‘Rio Cinema’.
In 2013, local people were warned to ‘use it or lose it’ as the cinema was in financial crisis. Over �4000 was raised, and the board brought in a new director, Olly Meek. Olly is working with staff and local people to restore and reinvent the cinema to keep it safe for the next century and beyond.
FAQS
Where can I find out what films you are showing?
You can find out what’s on here: What’s On, or check a specific date on the calendar, located on the right hand side of our website. If there is nothing listed on a specific date, it means we are still waiting to confirm the film and times.
When do you have a P+B/family screening?
Parent & Baby screenings are on every Thursday,except during the summer school holidays when we show family matinees.
What else are you showing?
As we are a one-screen cinema, we are limited to how many films we can show every week. However we have plenty of special events, Q&As, and one-off screenings! You can find out more here.
Can I hire the cinema?
Yes, you can hire the Rio for private screenings, conferences, music events, birthday parties, or even as a filming location.
You can find more information here, or contact Oliver Meek at oliver@riocinema.org.uk, with a suggested date and time, and a description of your project and requirements.
How do I create an online account?
Click on the link on the top right of our website, just underneath the menu, its free! Or go directly to this page.
How is an account different to a membership?
Registering for a free Rio online account will allow you to book tickets and sign up for our weekly what’s on email list, so that we can send you information about upcoming screenings, events and more.
A paid Rio membership gives you free and discounted tickets, discounts at the bar and local businesses, and advance booking for special screenings. A one year membership costs �30, or �50 for a joint one. A life membership costs �300. You can find out more here.
What do stalls and circle mean?
The Rio is one of London’s few remaining 1930’s cinemas, complete with its original auditorium. The stalls are the ground floor of the auditorium and can accommodate 191 customers (plus 3 wheelchairs – fully accessible). The Circle is upstairs and can accommodate 214 customers.
When is upstairs open?
We open the circle only for busy screenings and special events.
What is you latecomers policy?
Latecomers are allowed in up to 15 minutes after the feature has started.
Can I buy a gift voucher?
Absolutely! You can buy a voucher and put as much money as you want on it, which can then be used towards tickets, food and drinks.
You can do this by coming in, or calling us – however you will need to come in to collect the voucher.
Unless stated otherwise on the voucher, they expire 12 months after the purchase date. This also applies to any other type of vouchers such as complementary tickets and credit notes.
Can I bring my school group here?
Yes – where the certificate allows. It is best to book in advance to be sure you get all the seats you need, if its a large group please contact us for a discount.
We also do special school screenings on weekday mornings during term time, often showing educational, themed or requested films – see our Education page on this website or contact Andrew Woodyatt at andrew@riocinema.org.uk for more information or to make a booking.
Are you accessible?
Yes our stalls are fully accessible, and we have 3 wheelchair spaces available. More spaces can be made available on request. Please get in touch with us if you want to make sure you will have a wheelchair space. There is also one accessible toilet on this level.
Can I use e-cigarettes in the auditorium?
No, e-cigarettes are not allowed in the auditorium.
Can I bring my own food in?
As a charity, we ask that you do not bring your own food in. Surprisingly we do not make much money on ticket sales, and therefore rely on revenue from the bar and cafe We have plenty of healthy and affordable choices in our cafe/bar, both sweet and savoury, and by buying here, you will support our cinema.