US cinema chain dedicates screens to arthouse and documentaries. I have never understood why multiplexes didn’t do this in the first place. Take Holloway Odeon – it has eight screens of which two have less than sixty seats. Often filled with blockbusters from five weeks ago, they limp on. But give them a different lick of paint, a sperate more community feel and dress them up as you arthouse or rep screens, and you attract a whole new demographic to your cinematic gin joint.
I’d almost seperate them and perhaps add cafes to them – the Ritzy shows that this model works well. Don’t slay the indies, but at least let them earn their bucks too.