Stratford East Picturehouse

Staff were nice film was good but the large popcorn was totally stale and there was no toilet paper in the downstairs baby changing toilet.

As a member who hasn't been for a while I was really disappointed. Also the cinema was almost empty.

Fantastic cinema and host to Sci-fi London International Film Festival and other great events!

We went along to see X-Men: Apocalypse (decent enough film, would probably watch again). We'd planned on going to the Vue, but after realising tickets were just £7 here AND they accepted Meerkat Movies, we decided to go and check it out instead. So the film basically cost us £3.50 each - amazing value!

The film was showing in Screen 1, which had a good sized screen and good quality audio. Unlike the mainstream cinemas, you could choose your own seats as you walked into the cinema. I was surprised at how empty the screen was for probably the biggest current release.

The seats were really comfortable - although, for my tall companion, legroom wasn't the best and the lack of cup holders was a bit annoying. But, for the price we paid, I had a top experience and will definitely be heading back for an affordable cinema experience.

It's a good local cinema if you live locally in East London and very close to Stratford Station and Westfield Stratford City, and next to the Stratford Centre and Theatre Royal, based in a landmark building. Like all Picturehouses, the seats are really comfortable and has a great incline to view the screen. Unfortunately, Screen 4 has no leg room, and most of their screenings seems to be held there. And no cup holders! Good large screen though.

The annoying thing which all cinemas seems to be veering towards is that you buy your drinks and food at the same time as you buy your tickets, so it is always a long wait, if you only want to purchase tickets. Likewise if you already purchased and collected tickets from the ticket machines, and you just want to purchase drinks and food, the service is always so slow.

An independent cinema showing a good selection of films now as well as foreign and arthouse films, with a cafe-bar upstairs. Tickets are a lot cheaper than other Picturehouses, ranging from £7.50 off peak to £9.50 peak, and other concessions and member rates.

Also, as with all Picturehouses, you do not need to be watching a film to enjoy the use of their bar/cafe. Also has free WiFi via The Cloud.

This is a funny Picturehouse as it just doesn't compare to any of their others, particularly to the one just along the Overground in Hackney which is a world apart from this one.

It still shows a good selection of mainstream and slightly more obscure films, and makes an effort with events and so on.

Perhaps one of the problems is the security glass at the ticket office when you go in, compared with most cinemas where it's just a guy behind a desk with no security glass, so this gives it the impression they're anticipating crime such as a robbery, like it's a bank or something. Oddly enough though, most of the time the ticket office is closed and you buy tickets from the refreshments place which has no security glass! Doesn't really make sense.

The cinema then really has the feeling of being under invested in compared to their others, it's like they just haven't made the effort with this one to give it the nice & cosy feel you usually find. The cafe sells an ok range of food and drinks, but the seating area usually has a bit of a bus shelter feel to it, somehow it's just not a nice place to hang around in for long.

The seats in the cinema are far from roomy, more like you expected from cinemas in the past where you're wedged in next to people and there's not enough leg room. That said it's not usually a big problem as most screenings are not that full so you can spread out.

It's still a fine place to visit though, it's really just compared with their other cinemas that it seems inferior. I would still choose this place over one of the large multiplex chains.

The Stratford Picture House is located just a short walk through Stratford Mall or just up the road from Stratford station. It's rather impressive glass structure nestles behind a bizarre circular shaped object that reminds me of the gate in Stargate. Despite its rather swanky outward appearance, Stratford Picture House leaves you a little flat. I've been here several times and each film has been dire, I know this isn't the fault of the cinema but this place seems to insist on selecting only the most obvious, and therefore usually useless, films.

On the plus side if you are able to come in the day you can get tickets for dirt cheap and unlike most cinemas the bar is manned most of the time, meaning you can sup a beer while you wait for the trailers to finish. Snacks and sweets are, as ever, ludicrously priced.

Nothing special.

Decent cinema showing the latest releases. Seats are really soft and comfy, and the sound and video quality are comparable to the big cinemas in Leicester Square.


Prices are very cheap, and they do memberships for regular movie goers, as well as half price tickets on Mondays!

Pleasant cinema that shows the latest films at decent prices. Place is hidden away from the hussle and bustle of Westfields. Seating is cosy and the sound quality is great.

The Stratford East picturehouse is a lovely building - located in an area that really is close to my heart considering I grew up there. But the amount of money you pay for a single ticket (ranging from £7-12) is just not worth it.

Why would I not prefer to watch the same movie/short film for the same amount of money but have a better overall experience in Leicester Sqaure's Vue or Odeon Cinemas?! The prices are exactly the same and the cinemas are so much nicer not to mention the fact that they attract a much better crowd than that of the rowdy popcorn-throwing school kids that Stratford picturehouse does!

Get yourself a zones 1-4 travelcard (which you would be doing to get into Stratford anyway) and get down to Leicester sqaure - pick one out of the four hugely comfortable and easily accessible cinemas and once you've enjoyed the movie, grab some dessert or just take a stroll around Leicester Square- soaking up the atmosphere!

A rarity in a time of multiplexes and faceless cinemas and £10 - £15 a ticket London prices, the Stratford Picturehouse is a bit of a secret of mine. Hidden away opposite the theatre in a surprisingly nice bit of town, this is a really laid-back, old school place to see a film. There are small screen, members discounts, a licenced bar and tickets that cost little more than a fiver most days.


One thing that never fails to amuse me is the projected clock they put up on the curtain before the films start. Makes a change from advertising, at least!