My London cinema is ‘one of the greatest in the world’ with £3 tickets

The Castle has been voted among the best in the world (Picture: The Castle Cinema) The cinema might feel like a relic to some – a moment from before films were available at the press of a button at home – but I’ll never turn my back on an afternoon spent sitting in complete darkness with total strangers in front of a booming big screen. Luckily for me, I live in London, a city that can officially boast 12 of the top 100 cinemas in the world. Time Out recently released its ranking of the greatest cinemas on the planet, with the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles – host to more red carpet premieres for major blockbusters than anywhere outside London’s Leicester Square – taking the top spot. Elsewhere on the list were some spectacularly unusual venues: the world’s biggest cinema screen in Leonberg, Germany, a small town with a population of just 49,000; a Hungarian cinema housed inside a former temple; a Berlin theatre complete with its own nuclear bunker; and a Spanish Baroque picture house that even starred in the Oscar-winning film Milk. But no city can claim more entries than London, whose best performer came in fourth place. The BFI Southbank was named the capital’s top cinema, with £4 tickets for 16–25 year olds, the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival, and a constant stream of panels and talks featuring some of the biggest names in film. Other London venues that made the cut include Picturehouse Central, a seven-screen complex just off Piccadilly Circus, and Curzon Soho only a few metres down the road. The Castle, in East London, is ranked 83 on the list (Picture: The Castle Cinema) Generosity and kindness sit at the heart of the cinema (Picture: The Castle Cinema) But none of them compare to my local cinema. The Castle, tucked away on Chatsworth Road in the heart of east London, came in at number 82 – which might sound impressive, but having visited plenty of the London cinemas ranked above it, I’d argue it’s been robbed. Since leaving full-time work to go freelance, it’s become something of a second home. At least once a week I spend the day there, drifting between screenings while working from the cosy Art Deco bar. By afternoon the same familiar faces are tapping away on laptops, before the evening crowd rolls in for a blockbuster, a streamed theatre show they couldn’t get tickets for – even if they could afford the £100 price tag – or a niche arthouse film you’d struggle to find anywhere else. If The Castle is backing a film, that’s usually recommendation enough for me. ‘I’ve never felt loyalty to a cinema quite like I do to this one’ (Picture: The Castle Cinema) BFI Southbank, one of London’s most popular cinemas, has naturally made the cut (Picture: Getty Images) I’ve never felt loyalty to a cinema quite like I do to this one. Its distinctive charm is always enough to lure me away from the temptation of anywhere else – even Time Out’s supposed best cinema in London – and rearrange my day if needed to catch a film in one of its two screens. Screen One is the larger of the two, but what it boasts in size it matches in cosiness. Each customer sinks deep into their own armchair, perhaps with one of the best cocktails in east London in hand (often on offer) or, in my case, a hot chocolate and a slice of homemade cake from the bar. In Screen Two, however, the back two rows are made up of sofas which, if you’re lucky, you can often get one to yourself. Independent cinemas are in desperate need of regular customers, but more often than not they struggle to compete with the low prices of soulless multiplex chains like Vue or Odeon. The IMAX cinema is ranked number 1 in the world (Picture: Getty Images) At The Castle, though, I rarely spend more than £3 on a ticket. Midweek, members can bring a friend for free before 5pm from Tuesday to Friday – and membership costs just £35 a year, or £17.50 for students, NHS staff and those on lower incomes. Generosity and kindness sit at the heart of the cinema too. Anyone can leave a few pounds behind the bar so that someone else – someone who might need the comfort of a film but can’t afford a ticket – can still walk in and take a seat. In an age of endless streaming and algorithm-driven recommendations, The Castle feels quietly radical. It’s not just a place to watch films – it’s a place to belong. And while the world’s most famous cinemas might have bigger screens, grander foyers or red-carpet premieres, none of them have ever made me feel quite as at home or impressed me as much as a £3 seat on Chatsworth Road. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.