Cineworld

The multiplex at Dalton Park, just outside Peterlee, is the kind of cinema that does exactly what it says on the tin - it's a proper modern venue with a decent number of screens showing the latest releases. You get the usual suspects: reclining seats in some screens, a popcorn counter that charges London prices, and that distinctive smell of hot butter that hits you the moment you walk in.

It's genuinely useful if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - The Barn at Easington is barely twenty minutes away, and rainy afternoons in County Durham are common enough that having a cinema on standby makes sense. Families with kids will find it reliable rather than thrilling; there's nothing flashy about it, but it does the job when the beach gets too windy.

Check the website before you go because showtimes vary wildly depending on what's on, and you'll want to book online rather than turn up hoping for decent seats. Tickets aren't cheap - expect to pay around £8-10 for adults, more for the premium screens - but that's the same across most multiplexes now. An afternoon showing is quieter than evenings, and you'll actually enjoy the film without teenagers on their phones behind you.

It's not a reason to visit Peterlee on its own, but if you're based at Castledene or one of the other caravan parks nearby, it's a solid backup plan when the weather turns.