[Invite] – click here

I was invited to the grand opening of Cambridge’s first Everyman cinema, located on the first floor of the Grand Arcade.

For those of you unaware of Everyman. It is a luxury brand of cinema that has been going since 1933. By offering comfortable sofas, intimate cinema screens, and a full blown menu served directly to your chair – it is an experience like no other!

I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the cinema. There are 4 screens available in total, which is impressive considering it is in the Grand Arcade. Parking is free in the car park after 18:30, something I recommend you take advantage of, as the parking during the day would likely end up costing more than the cinema ticket.

The menu has all the classic cinema items you would expect; popcorn, fizzy drinks, chocolate, and sweets, but where Everyman Cinema differs is their selection of full blown meals, alcoholic beverages, cocktails and desserts.

I ordered their signature “1216 burger”, something (I heard) was invented by one of their staff team. This is a burger served with a dry-aged British beef pattie, with cured bacon, red Leicester cheese, potato scraps and harissa mayo. I also grabbed some sweet potato fries and a milkshake.

A common question asked during the evening was whether the food is brought out during the film. A concern I also had, as nobody wants people walking in and out of the cinema with food during a film (especially if they are serving it to someone next to you). I was told that the idea is to offer and serve the dishes during the adverts leading up to the film before it starts.

Milkshake

The vanilla milkshake came out served in a large glass jug with a paper straw. It was thick and creamy, with a mild hint of vanilla. Better still, you can add a shot of Bailey’s… who’s to know? 😉

The burger and chips

The burger was a good size and served in a bun that held together quite well (which is just as well, in a cinema!). You are given a large and quite robust lemon scented wipe in anticipation for greasy food getting on their nice sofas. I asked one of the staff about the risks of their sofas being ruined by the ungodly mess often left at cinemas. Apparently, these are specialist sofas made from a wipe-able material.

You could tell that the burger was made from quality ingredients and tastes pretty good. It isn’t going to match a lot of the high end burger joints in the city that specialise in burgers but it was great to have adult food in the cinema.

The sweet potato fries were incredible and may have been some of the crispest sweet potato fries I have ever had. The portion was fair and they complimented the burger really well.

I didn’t stick around for the screening but the film was Emilia Perez. The cinema aims to show a wide variety of films ranging from the more high-brow movies you’d expect from The Picture House but also the more accessible films you’d expect from more mainstream cinemas. There should be something for everyone.

Conclusion

Everyman cinema is a great addition to Cambridge and fits in perfectly with the city’s fun and quirky nature. It was great to have such high-quality food being served at the cinema, rather than the usual sugar or salt often available. It feels like a cinema for adults but I know anyone of any age would enjoy it.