Theatre Info

Leiston Film Theatre, or Leiston Picture House as it was originally named, opened in October 1914 and has traded continuously for 107 years. Following a decline in cinema attendances in the 1970's, the venue was saved from closure in 1976 by Leiston Town Council, who have invested in carefully updating the building to meet the expectations of today's cinema audiences. Despite being Suffolk's oldest surviving purpose built cinema, this versatile venue boasts a very comfortable 252 seat auditorium, with a choice of standard, cuddle or premier seating and features Dolby Digital 7.1 Surround EX sound and the very latest in digital projection, including the superior Dolby 3D experience.

Leiston Film Theatre was shortlisted for the prestigious Cinema of the Year award at the 2015 Screen Awards, was awarded the title of Cinema of the Year 2018 - Suffolk, by CV Magazine's Excellence Awards and was awarded a 2020 Travellers' Choice award from Trip Advisor, in recognition of receiving such consistently positive reviews on the popular traveler website. Please feel free to leave your own glowing review by clicking here.

Most recently, new, larger toilets have been introduced in 2018 and the foyer has been significantly enlarged and refurbished, to enable a separate area for the collection of pre-booked tickets and the introduction of a Visitor Information Point.

Presently, the Film Theatre is in the midst of a difficult recovery period, following a combined 19 week closure, due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The venue has been overwhelmed by the messages of encouragement and financial contributions to support this iconic cinema/theatre during such uncertain times. If you would like to make a donation, please click HERE.

Finding us

You can find Leiston Film Theatre at 74 High Street, Leiston, Suffolk. IP16 4BZ. We are a very prominent building in the town centre.

Cinema Admission Prices

Adult: £8.50 (aged 15 and over)
Child: £5.50 (aged 14 and under)
Senior: £7.50 (aged 60 and over)

A £1.80 surcharge is applicable for all tickets for 3D screenings and includes returnable Dolby 3D glasses.

Please ask for the correct ticket type at the time of purchase, as errors cannot be amended once tickets are issued.

Admission prices for event cinema vary. Please check our programme for details, or contact us to clarify the admission price for these performances.

Tickets are non-refundable. However, tickets may be exchanged for an alternative performance of the same film. A transfer fee of £1.50 per ticket is charged for this service.

The venue accepts most major credit and debit cards, with no minimum amount or charges. Please note, when paying by card, this will be debited as Leiston Town Council and not Leiston Film Theatre.

Premier and Cuddle Seats

Premier seats are available for customers aged 18 and over and are subject to a £2.50 surcharge. These popular chairs are positioned at the rear of the auditorium, offering unrestricted viewing and are wider, with higher backs, a table for your movie munchies and a generous one meter of legroom. Alcohol may be purchased and consumed within the 'premier' section for films. Proof of age may be requested.

Cuddle seats are available as pairs, to customers aged 16 and over and are subject to a £2.00 surcharge per seat. These chairs are the width of two standard seats without the central armrest and are perfect for couples who wish to 'snuggle' up and enjoy a film. Under 16's may use the cuddle seats, at the managements discretion, when accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 years and over.

Box Office Opening Hours

Mornings: Monday - Friday: 10.00am - 1.00pm.
Evenings: 7.00pm - 9.00pm.

During holiday periods, the box office may be open during the afternoon and early evening when a matinee screening is programmed.

Alternatively, you can book your seats at any time online by clicking here. Please note: Online bookings for films and live shows closes one hour prior to show times.

Advance Bookings

Advance bookings may be made for all films and live shows in person at the box office or by telephone during box office opening hours on 01728 830549 and online by clicking here. Please note tickets must be paid for at the time of purchase and a booking fee of 75p per ticket is applicable to all telephone and online bookings. If you wish to book a wheelchair space then please contact the box office as these are unavailable for online booking. Online bookings for films and live shows closes one hour prior to show times.

Data Protection: Your contact details may be recorded to provide you with tickets for your chosen events in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation. These details will not be shared with any third parties.

Wheelchair Access

The box office, foyer and toilets are fully accessible. There are three wheelchair spaces available for each performance. The box office features a lower counter and the auditorium is accessible to wheelchair users via a ramp in the foyer. Please contact the box office directly on 01728 830549 during box office opening hours, if you wish to book a wheelchair space, as these spaces are unavailable for booking online. Please make staff aware of any specific requirements at the time of booking.

Parking

There are various places to park whilst visiting Leiston Film Theatre. The most popular car park is located in the High Street, adjacent to the cinema. This car park is free in the evenings from 6.00pm. There is alternative pay and display car parking in Sizewell Road (IP16 4AB) and free car parking, for a maximum of two hours, at the East of England Co-operative, also in Sizewell Road.

CEA Card and Seating for the Disabled

The CEA card entitles the holder to one complimentary ticket for their accompanying carer. For further information, please visit the CEA card website at: www.ceacard.co.uk. We currently have three wheelchair spaces situated on the right of the auditorium. To book these spaces, please contact the box office on 01728 830549 and we will be pleased to book the seats next to the wheelchair spaces if required. Please note: CEA cards can only be accepted for standard film performances and cannot be used for event cinema.

Meerkat Movies 2-for-1 Ticket Offer

Leiston Film Theatre is pleased to participate in the Meekat Movies reward scheme, for customers of comparethemarket.com, offering 2-for-1 cinema tickets every Tuesday or Wednesday for a whole year when you buy a qualifying product*

*For Full terms and conditions please visit: http://www.comparethemarket.com/information/meerkat-movies-terms/

You can claim your 2-for-1 tickets in 3 easy steps:

STEP 1: Download the MEERKAT MOVIES app or visit comparethemarket.com.

STEP 2: Log into or set up your comparethemarket.com account to activate your membership and claim your voucher code. You have one voucher code to use every Tuesday or Wednesday at Leiston Film Theatre.

STEP 3: Present your 2-for-1 voucher code at the Box Office before purchasing tickets.

Meerkat Movies customers are welcome to upgrade to premier or cuddle seats, subject to availability, which are subject to the relevant surcharge.

Loyalty Card Scheme

Leiston Film Theatre is the only local cinema to offer a loyalty card scheme. Loyalty cards are available to any customer and are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Collect eleven loyalty card stamps (one per visit) and on your twelfth visit, you can enjoy the film for FREE! Loyalty cards are subject to availability and may only be stamped for full price regular film programmes and not live shows, special events, discounted promotions or when using a gift voucher.

Gift Vouchers

Gift vouchers can be purchased in person from the box office, or by telephone on 01728 830549 and are available as £5, £10, £15 and £20 vouchers. Gift vouchers can be used against tickets for cinema and live theatre and are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

Leiston Film Theatre Support Club

Leiston Film Theatre Support Club was formed in 1992 and has provided vital financial support to encourage the Film Theatre to become the venue that it is today and continue to raise funds for ongoing projects. Annual membership is only £6.00 and an application form can be obtained from the box office, or by clicking here.

Services Available

• Online bookings for all films, live shows and special events.
  
• Dolby Digital 7.1 Surround EX sound system.
• Digital projection and Dolby Digital 3D.
• High Frame Rate 2D and 3D.
  
• Premier and cuddle seats.
• Comfortable 252 seat auditorium with generous legroom.
  
• Induction loop system for the hard of hearing.
• Easy access and facilities for the disabled.
• Free booster seats for movie juniors.
• Movie munchies and Theatre Showbar.
  
• Costume hire available - viewing by appointment only.
  
• Theatre hire available - please ask for details.

Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is not permitted in any part in the building.

Age Restrictions on Films

Leiston Film Theatre reserves the right to request photographic identification to verify a customers age for 12A, 15 and 18 certificated films. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by someone who is aged 18 or over at all times, regardless of film classification. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by someone aged 18 or over to be admitted after 7.00pm.