Ritzy Cinema, Brixton, London

never go wrong with the ritzy i’ve been comin here since i was a kid…

Great choices available at this cinema. Not too pricey either.

Cheap-ish and with a bar, the Ritzy makes something of a change from “regular” multiplexes. But, to be honest, I can’t get hysterically excited about it, perhaps because it’s just that bit further from me than some other options, or because it still has that “big cinema” feel ?

Quirky little cinema, benefits from a cheap ticket night on a monday where tickets are £6ish instead of the usual !10 and if you book online you can print of an eticket at home so that theres no queing for the box office or ticket collection machines when you arrive, we went straight from work and just rocked up straight to the screen with no faffing with queues. A splendid way to spend a monday evening

Fun, quirky cinema and love that there's a cozy bar, but the screens are quite small and tickets aren't that cheap (still cheaper than Leicester Square though!). Also was hoping there'd be less commercials but still sat through +20 minutes of commercials and previews.

A great little independent cinema. What more can be said? I'm sick to death of overpriced Odeons and the like, so the Ritzy is the perfect antidote, especially as there isn't really any other cinema in the area. And the cafe is a great place to meet friends for coffee, or to have a beer. I love people watching and sitting with my laptop for hours on the end- the staff don't seem to mind. I agree that sometimes the service can be bad. But it isn't claiming to be anything other than a cinema cafe, so I don't know what people expect? You get what you pay for, and the 2.50 sausage sandwich is always great!

******NEW REVIEW, NEW LOW RATING!******

I've only just got over a bout of food poisoning from the Ritzy cinema on Sunday morning, the 27th of Feb 2011. As it was the only meal my husband and I shared all weekend that was different, it must've been the eggs florentine that caused me such agony all Sunday night and Monday (which resulted in me taking a day off work, unpaid).

But regardless of some dodgy eggs, before the dish had even come out of the kitchen I'd vowed never to return. I love supporting local indie businesses (as you can see from the other businesses I've reviewed on Qype previously), but Ritzy cafe, you are dead to me. I'll still continue going to the cinema (I am a member, after all), but I am so fed up with the consistently low standards in service I've been dealt with twice recently.

A couple of months ago, on a Saturday morning, my husband and I both ordered fried breakfasts -- one meat, one veggie. His arrived after about 20 mins (already too long, if you ask me), and by the time he'd finished eating his, mine still hadn't arrived. Sick of training to catch the eye of waiters who were steadfastly avoiding our table, I actually had to go to the counter to ask where my breakfast was. The hungover waiter sloped off to check, but I didn't hear anything for at least another five minutes. A long time when you're fuming (and hungry).

Eventually, we gave up, once we realised about four tables around us had received their breakfasts before mine arrived -- even though they'd sat down after us. So we demanded the money back for my breakfast, and left.

This past Sunday it was a similar story, with my eggs florentine turning up about a minute after the husband had finished his fried breakfast. I'd already asked one waiter to check on my breakfast, and he wandered off without even an apology -- seriously, are all of the Ritzy cafe's staff hungover or stoned?! -- and after he didn't return, we had to ask another passing waitress. She went off and eventually found the eggs, but by then the damage was done. I was fuming mad (again), and it completely ruined our morning.

So guess what, Ritzy cafe? You've lost yourself two customers. And I'll be telling all my friends about the food poisoning, too.

****Original review, from January 2009, of the original cafe above the cafe I just vowed never to return to:****

Everyone knows and loves the cinema (and bar) at Brixton Ritzy, but did you know there's an amazing little cafe tucked a few floors up, by screen 4?

It spills over two levels, and has views of Brixton from the tall windows. Everything is very well priced, from coffees and teas, to lunches, dinners and desserts. The pancakes are an absolute must, with both savoury and sweet being offered. A nice touch is that the savoury pancakes are named after cool indie films - try the 'Spirited Away', it's the best.

It's a really great atmosphere, full of bright colours, potted plants, and lots of people poring over newspapers and meeting friends over a lazy coffee and bite to eat. You don't even have to be watching a film afterwards - it's a great cafe in its own right, and so well priced too.

CINEMA: 4 stars
CAFE: 3 stars

As a cinema, I have had a 13-year hot-cold relationship with the Ritzy. The cinema has felt unloved over the last few years, which is a shame because it used to be a great place. I went again recently though and it looked like they had done some refurb because the seats were more comfy and the floors weren't covered with toxic waste like before. Hopefully this is a sign that things are back on the right track.

The Cafe is OK, not anything to write home about and a little pricey for what you get... the portions at lunchtime were meagre and the service a little chaotic. But if you are stuck for a place to go, you could do worse.

A super 'local' cinema. Join the club, sit back and enjoy the movies.

The Ritzy's a Brixton institution! Great little art house cinema with the most important thing of all... comfy seats!

Great local cinema. Better value than west end.

What a great cinema! It shows a great mix of films ad is located right in the heart of Brixton. Screen 1 surprised me as it is more like a plush theatre than a cinema. Comfortable seats and plenty of space, a great sound system and great quality picture. I'll definitely be going back.

Great bar and cinema

Brilliant local cinema and bar. Wonderful inside and they host loads of screenings, Q and A sessions etc. The seats are lovely and comfy but it can get a little hot in there!

Fab local cinema, showing all the best stuff and putting on special screenings, like showings where they keep the lights on so everyone can knit! Cafe is cool too, and a great place to hang with your mates listening to jazz and drinking coffee. Can't fault the Ritzy and wouldn't want to, it's ACE!

I have lived in Brixton on and off for over ten years. I still love the cinema and the range of foreign and non blockbuster films on offer. I used also to love the Ritzy upstairs cafe as a place to hang out on the balcony in the sun at weekends, have a coffee and a bite to eat before the film, or a glass of wine with friends. However, the recent refurbishment has done nothing for the place. The upstairs cafe has now been transformed into a bar - only open after 6pm. Instead there is a new downstairs cafe which lacks the ambience and relaxed atmosphere of the old upstairs venue. It is invariably crowded and has a 'fast food' feel. The old upstairs Ritzy cafe used to be a hang out and meeting place of mine. Now it has transformed into a bar with restricted opening times I have relocated to the Lounge down the road. Bring back the old upstairs cafe - it was a great addition to a fantastic cinema.

A really nice period cinema with the laid-back vibe I love and a number of screens.

If you can see a film on the main screen it is worth it has lots of period features as it was the main screen before all the extra little screening rooms were added.

Recently they have reconfigured the building to have a separate café / bar with its own separate entrance.

The cafe in itself a good idea but it falls down in a couple of ways, because it is another entrance to the building people use it to come into the cinema which makes it like sitting in a drafty corridor, second the service though well intentioned, is not up to much, in our trip there were faulty tills and food brought to us cold.

Pity, because the café is really good idea, in the end, following them letting customers jump the queue ahead of us, we left and went to another café around the corner

Situated on the top floor of the Ritzy cinema- this little bar often has live acts playing- we caught a great Jazz band playing on Saturday night.
The prices are reasonable and the staff are friendly and laid back. There's a roof terrace overlooking Brixton looking towards the Mass which is a great place for a drink on a sunny day and an easy place for smokers to go on an evening out.
Combined with one of the best independent cinemas in London, the Ritzy cafe really adds to the cultural attractions in Brixton and is well-worth popping into just to see if anything's going on!

recently refurbished this is a nice place to hang out in Brixton and watch the world go by - especially if the weather is good (rare I know!!) the food was ok, but I was mostly there for the people watching opportunity if I’m honest and the Ritzy is a great cinema (I joined as a member to get lots of lovely benefits!) so it’s worth a visit both for a film as well as the food!

The Ritzy is great! great selection of blockbusters mixed with independent films. Nice pub and grub if you want to hang out before or after. This is where I want to go for movies.