My husband and l are members of the Little Theatre in Bath and grateful to the cinema for honouring our membership card which we haven’t been able to use until now because of lockdown.
We settled down in front of Screen 1 to watch Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci in Supernova – an intense and deeply moving, dementia-themed drama with lots of tender, quiet moments.
That’s when we became aware of the fact that we could hear people chatting outside – which just happens to be where the nearby Grapes Public House has been enjoying a pavement licence enabling them to set out tables and chairs in St Michaels Place.
It’s also a busy route for pedestrians cutting through from the Cross Bath area to Westgate Street.
Turns out we were not the only Picture House customers to mention how distracting those outside noises can be.
While there is a stone wall between us and the great outdoors, it contains two windows and a fire exit door – with painted-out windows above – and it’s probably that which is letting noise in.
I contacted Cineworld for comment, but have heard nothing so far.
However, bumping into Grapes landlady Ellie Leiper – outside the Little – she tells me the company has decided to take almost immediate action to ease the problem.
I did contact the press office at Cineworld but have not heard anything.
However, a spokesperson for the Little told me this morning ( Friday, July 2nd)
“We’re doing all we can to improve the cinema experience for our customers at the Little Theatre in Bath, which is a 1930s grade 2 listed building and needs to be handled with care.
We’re installing brand new soundproofing on Friday 2 July to help suppress the additional noise levels being caused at the outdoor seating at the Grapes, and we hope to ensure that any disruption will only be temporary.”
