Dukes at Komedia Picturehouse — Local services in Great Britain

This is a chain cinema with an independent, very Brighton feel, with its enormous kitsch female legs in red and white stripey over-the-knee socks and black, high-heeled shoes tumbling overhead from the front roof entrance. This is why I don’t want to diss it.

But my visit yesterday (incidentally to see the Korean film “Past Lives”, about which more in another review) felt a bit shabby. The downstairs cafe was dark, closed, and shuttered, which took me aback a little. There were no staff around. I then decided to take the lift upstairs. I went down a dark red walled corridor and took what was a fairly rickety and dark deserted lift upstairs, once stopping at a sort of goods room with no one in it - which was a surreal experience - a bit like being in a film noir!

All of this was quite enjoyable - until I got to the ticket desk at the cafe upstairs. There was a long queue - I waited around 20 minutes for one staff member to serve everyone before me. The only other staff member in the building was checking tickets at the screen entrance door. I was then charged £21 for one film ticket, a soft drink, some kettle chips and a packet of Maltesers? Not an experience to be repeated - I think I need membership.

But the tour de force was an auditorium that was decidedly stuffy and smelled of strong cheese. Is this the air conditioning others have remarked on at Dukes at Komedia? The whiff nearly put me off the movie.

I couldn’t help thinking of the bright clean, fresh and airy atmosphere of Lewes Depot, Chichester New Park Cinema, or the Towner Cinema in Eastbourne. Not to mention any of the other chain cinemas I might visit in Brighton. And Dukes at Komedia needs more staff than two, to work three busy screens and a cafe, on a Thursday afternoon in the North Laine. I feel that if imaginatively programmed cinema chains like Picturehouse, which have recently opened even more of their cinemas in London, are to survive, they will need to better maintain their existing buildings and staff, especially in a place like Brighton, with its buzzy and vibrant local film scene.

Personally, I am into screenwriting and have been to a few director/cast Q & As/screenings here as well. I would feel more encouraged to return if...

Went to see mission impossible dead reckoning last night at picturehouse Komedia. Appalled at the quality of the screening and the hot humid conditions of the theatre. Staff informed us only after the show that the air con has been broken for weeks but that ‘corporate’ insist the picture house stay open, business as usual, despite the terribly uncomfortable conditions. In addition, as the projector equipment couldn’t run without ventilation whilst the air con was broken, the window to the projector room stayed open spoiling the film audio with a heavy hum/whirring sound throughout the entire film as the projector ran continuously. This meant dialogue and quieter scenes were spoiled. Overall, a terrifically disappointing experience so I don’t think I’ll be returning to a such a subpar...

The best Picturehouse cinema in Brighton.

Modern and clean. Well maintained bathrooms (it's important). Staff are well mannered (also important).

Upstairs café serves pizzas, including two vegan options.

It does get crowded in the 10 to 15 minutes before a film's start time. Consider arriving early to get a table. Or after the start time to get a drink during the adverts.

Buying a membership is recommended if you intend to visit regularly. You'll save money on tickets and get other perks.

It's £20 a year for students. Members can enjoy discounts at Picturehouse venues across the country (except Central).

Students also get access to exclusive free screenings. I, Tonya was the most recent one. Next is Love, Simon.

And no, there isn't a bias for film titles...