Rio Cinema, Dalston, London

The Rio Cinema on Stoke Newington High Street / Kingsland Road is an independent cinema showing arthouse and alternative releases along with mainstream flicks. The cinema has only one screen so has on feature per week. Not too expensive at £8 for an adult ticket, but quite diffcult to get to unless you live locally (check the bus routes!).

The Sunday Matinee double bills are often worth a look, and its a good idea to consider membership if you are planning to go often (£35 for a joint membership gets 4 free tickets and then £1 off tickets).

Very good independent cinema, the last thing I saw here was Indiana Jones and the thing with the skull. It was a bad movie that wasn’t helped by the poor quality sound system. I really like this cinema but they have to sort out the sound. It was kind of intermittent depending on the reel.

Sit at the back, cos there tends to be one seat that doesn’t work so you get a nice gap between you and other people. The staff are very nice and will give you a discount for student equity ha ha. Films that worked really well here: The Royal Tenenbaums, The Saragossa Manuscript.

Since the Blockbuster opposite became a Tesco, you can also stock up on cheapish snacks and possibly booze. Wink.

Lovely local cinema for rep and mainstream. Good value Saturday kids’ club and homemade cakes!

my local cinema is a double edged place. Whilst it is a “repertory” cinema and often shows good quality Uk, American, and european independants, they are often of the depressingly middle class “foreign people talking about relationships” variety, leaving the real edgy stuff to other independant cinemas such as the excellent Brixtion Ritzy. The Rio also hosts seasons of Jewish or Turkish films, which is fine if you’re Jewish or Turkish, too middle class to admit that you want to watch stuff exploding, or will watch anything as long as it’s on film, but leaves even less time for proper good films.
The staff are friendly, the sunday double bills and occasional late night saturday and friday night bills are sometimes good, and the cake rule. Overall a great cinema, but one of the least good rep cinemas in london unless you’re turkish.

such a cool place. Latest film I saw here was Grind House with Quentin Tarantino.
Rio is a cinema run by local people. I know a few who get involved. Its great here. Meet new people, eat popcorn and watch films…awesome.

An island in a sea of mulitplexes, the Rio really is one of Dalston’s true gems.

Showing a range of Hollywood, foreign and independent films, as well late night screenings, Sunday matinees, special double bills, and special parents & babies screenings. They also screen a free matinee in the middle of each month (with free tea and cake!). You can also hire the cinema out on Friday and Saturday nights for special screenings of a film of your choice, a perfect idea if you’re planning a birthday party with a difference.

The large screen and comfy seats make for a perfect cinema experience, especially if you’re watching Casablanca with a Monmouth coffee and a slice of chocolate cake!

This old school independent cinema is a real gem on the slightly shabby Dalston Kingsland Road. With one screen in a giant auditorium with gorgeous art deco decoration you feel like you’re watching your film in a different time. Nice staff and good snacks etc that you would expect from any cinema, but with bags more personality than the usual multiplex experience. Highly recommended.