Cinemas

Tyne and Wear has several cinemas, showing everything from Hollywood blockbusters to low-budget, independent films. You can choose from large, multi-screen cinemas to smaller, more intimate venues. Follow the link to the organisation for more details, including their website address for more details about current screenings.

Check the accessibility of the cinema before you visit

AccessAble can help you to plan your trips to places like cinemas, theatres, restaurants, railway stations, hotels, colleges, universities, hospitals and more. They visit and review the accessibility of places in Newcastle. Use their directory of venues to find wheelchair friendly venues, read more about facilities and disabled access available. Such as:

• photos of the facilities
• entrance to the building
• accessible toilets or changing places
• how easy it is to move around the venue
• lifts
• transport and parking
• dementia friendly
• quiet or safe space
• sign language

Free cinema tickets for carers

The Cinemas Exhibitors’ Association (CEA) Card helps to ensure cinemas make reasonable adjustments for you if you need them because of a disability. With the card you can claim a free ticket for a carer or person accompanying you to the cinema.

The card costs £6 and is available to people who;

• receive Disability Living Allowance; Attendance Allowance; Personal Independence Payment or Armed Forces Independence Payment
• are registered blind

You can apply online or by post. The card is valid for one year.

Cinemas in Newcastle

Cineworld Newcastle upon Tyne is part of a chain of large multi-screen cinemas, showing all of the latest film releases. It is situated inside The Gate complex, which also houses numerous bars and restaurants. All screens are accessible to wheelchair users and an infra-red sound system is installed in all auditoriums for people who are hard of hearing. Audio Description is provided and digital subtitling is provided on some films.

Everyman Cinema is a luxury cinema where you can order food and drinks to be delivered to you during the film. They have sofas to sit on.

Side Cinema is a 48 seat cinema showing independent films. The cinema is next to the Side Gallery, and has a cafe upstairs.

Star and Shadow Cinema The Star and Shadow Cinema is a registered Community Interest Company run entirely by volunteers and aims to show a wide variety of independent films. To see a film you will need to join the cinema as a member.

Tyneside Cinema has four screens: The Classic (the original 1930’s art deco theatre), The Roxy, The Electra and The Digital Lounge. Each screen is fully licensed, so that you can also purchase a drink from one of the bars. There are also three cafes within the Tyneside Cinema.

Concessions are available for older people and disabled people for all films. Companions for wheelchair users are admitted free of charge.

The cinema also has a daytime film club for over 60s called Silver Screen. Members get tickets for certain films at a reduced cost, including refreshments, introduction and discussion. Membership is free and also entitles the member to discounts at the Tyneside Coffee Rooms.

Their Dementia Friendly Cinema is a series of daytime screenings, fortnightly, for people with dementia and their families and carers. The screenings have increased lighting in the auditorium during the film, reduced sound levels and no adverts or trailers preceding the film.

Odeon Cinema – MetroCentre all screens are accessible to wheelchair users and an infra-red sound system is installed in all auditoriums for people who are hard of hearing.

Odeon Cinema – Silverlink All screens are accessible to wheelchair users and an infra-red sound system is installed in all auditoriums for people who are hard of hearing.

Odeon Senior Screen is a season of films for people aged over 60 years old. The discounted rate mid-morning screenings show some of the best new releases and some classics from over the years. Free tea and coffee is provided before the film. Visit the website for details of current films.

The Customs House in South Shields has a cinema, theatre and art gallery. Concessions for older people are available for most performances. Free tickets are available for wheelchair companions.

Film Archives

North East Film Archive you can watch many films for free on their website, looking back at how things used to be in Newcastle. They currently hold around 30,000 items, from 1900’s to the present.  They cover a range of subjects, including rural and urban life, industry and agriculture, family life, holidays and leisure, and wartime in the region, as well as a range of styles such as documentary, advertising, amateur footage, newsreels, animation, regional television news and educational material.

Last updated: September 15, 2023