Clapham Picturehouse

The Clapham Picturehouse sits on Venn Street in South London, a proper neighbourhood cinema that feels like the kind of place you'd actually want to spend an evening. It's an independent chain showing a mix of mainstream releases and indie films - the sort of theatre that won't just screen the latest Marvel blockbuster but will also give space to smaller productions that the multiplexes ignore.

Inside, it's got that cosy feel that chain cinemas lost years ago. Decent seats, a bar that does proper coffee and snacks beyond fluorescent popcorn, and an atmosphere that suggests people come here because they care about film, not just because it's Friday night. The screens are small enough to feel intimate but equipped well enough that you're not squinting at a picture the size of a postcard.

It's worth the trip if you're staying at Lovat Parks nearby - far better than driving to a soulless multiplex on the orbital. Families will appreciate the programme often includes kid-friendly afternoon showings, though this isn't a sprawling complex with something on every screen. Go on a weekday if you want to avoid crowds; weekends can get rammed, particularly for weekend releases.

Allows a good two hours from arrival to leaving your seat - add extra time on busy nights when queues build at the bar. Tickets cost what you'd expect for London, nothing extortionate but not cheap either. It's the kind of cinema that makes you remember why people enjoyed going to the pictures before they became car parks with screens.