This is a great little cinema that tends to show the sort of films that don't get screened in the…read moremainstream multiplexes that cater for hoodie-wearing "yoof" (which is good, because the audience here is what you get when all the chattering, phone-fiddling, sweet-rustlers have gone to see Yet More Formulaic Hollywood Action Dross 4: The Next Sequel! at Cineplex Planet "R" Us).
Ipswich Film Theatre closed down due to dwindling audiences a few years ago. A commercial chain took it over for a little while but, fortunately, soon left and moved on as they couldn't make enough money from the place. A group of cinephiles founded the Ipswich Film Theatre Trust and did a deal with the owners of the site (Ipswich Borough Council) and, staffed by volunteers, the place now offers the good people of Ipswich a reasonable range of independent, alternative, European and non-mainstream films three evenings a week.
There are two cinemas: the larger one has had a cheap 'n' cheerful refit. While the new seats aren't the most comfortable seats in the world (or even in the Corn Exchange for that matter), you can get by for a couple of hours. The smaller cinema is an absolute treasure. Its tiny (it seats about 40) and the seats are very comfortable. There's an under-used area adjacent to the small cinema that is wasted (it should be a coffee bar) and there are two bars in the building but, shamefully, neither is open to serve a pint of real ale to accompany the real cinema.
Overall, this is the kind of venue that needs a University film society to give it a shot in the arm and a kick in the pants: it should be open six evenings a week with the odd all-nighter schlock fest, along with decent beer and reasonable food on sale (anyone remember the wonderful days--and nights!--of The Scala at Kings Cross before it had to close?)