Your
Belmont
Memories

A whole lifetime captured by going to The Belmont - the lifetime of my son that is.

He was 21 in 2022 when the cinema closed and had been going to various wonderful screenings and events at The Belmont pretty much all his life. Being captivated by penguins in a crowded Christmas showing of March of the Penguins in 2005; blown away by 2001 A Space Odyssey a few years later; hugely enjoying Pride; learning and being very much influenced by a film about unions and the moving talk afterwards; in similar vein, several important Holocaust films and related events; being denied entry into Ex Machina (too young!); odd Saturday afternoons with random ones such as Kon-Tiki, safe inside from the cold and rain in the always welcoming Belmont;

The Belmont was the beating heart of the city and it meant so much to so many people, not merely a cinema but a whole cultural, social and educational centre that actually shaped people's lives and the way they think. Thank you Belmont and all of your dedicated staff over the years. 

I worked at the Belmont Picture House when it first reopened in September 2000 - the team of staff who worked there were all lovely, and the regular movie quiz nights in the bar downstairs were always fun. Loved all the world cinema seasons we held too. 

"I had seen the film The Disaster Artist at the Belmont and enjoyed it. Typical of the majority of films I went to see at the Belmont the audience was small. So when the opportunity arose to see the film that inspired The Disaster Artist and there were only a limited number of screenings I felt I had to go and see it. I usually aimed to arrive 20 minutes after the official start time so as to avoid the adverts. This has rarely been a problem.

On this occasion I was a little bit earlier than this and was stunned to see people queuing up outside. "What is going on?", I am thinking. "Why are so many people interested in a film of limited appeal?" I get to the ticket desk and I am lucky to get one of the last remaining seats in the front row of the large Screen 1. I prefer to sit near the back so as not to strain my neck and go swivel-eyed trying to take in a large screen close up. I was invited to take some plastic cutlery on the counter. "What is this for I asked?". "It is part of the film." was the reply with an enigmatic smile.

Sure enough Screen 1 was packed out. The film starts and a little way in the people behind me shout "Spoons" and I am showered in plastic cutlery . This happened at key points during the film. Also the audience shouted out phrases at certain repeated phrases or camera shots. The audience clearly knew this obscure film very well. Never in my 50 years of cinema going have I encountered such an immersive experience. Well done to the Belmont.

The film, in case you want to look out for it, is "The Room" by Tommy Wiseau. A film that has to be seen in a cinema.

"The Belmont will always have a special place in our hearts as the location of our very first date, a screening of Chocolat in March 2001. That was the first of many, many movies together and a love of film that we've then passed on to our 2 children. Although parenthood and a move out of the city took us away from the Belmont for many years, it was a thrill to return (with our teenage children) as part of the 2024 Doors Open Day weekend and see the exciting plans for the future."