AUDIENCE BEHAVIOUR

Cinema is something we share

There’s something special about watching a film with other people.

A laugh shared across the auditorium, the quiet anticipation before the lights go down, or the feeling of discovering a great film together are all part of what makes cinema different from watching at home.

We want everyone who visits the David Lean Cinema to feel comfortable, welcome and able to enjoy the film. Most of the time, that simply means being considerate of the people around you.

During the film

Please keep conversations to a minimum once the film has started. Laughter and reactions are all part of the cinema experience; ongoing conversations or other unnecessary noise can make it difficult for others to enjoy the film.

Please keep your phone switched off or on silent and avoid using it during the screening. Bright screens can be surprisingly distracting in a dark auditorium.

If you need to leave the auditorium during a screening, please do so as quietly and carefully as possible.

If you are attending with children, they remain your responsibility throughout the screening. Please make sure they are comfortable and able to enjoy the film without disturbing other audience members.

Different screenings, different needs

Not every screening at the David Lean is intended to be completely quiet.

Our Babes in Arms, Dementia Friendly and Relaxed screenings are designed to be more flexible and accessible. At these screenings, audiences may move around, enter or leave the auditorium and make more noise than would normally be expected.

We want these screenings to provide a welcoming environment for people who may find a conventional cinema experience difficult. If you’re attending one, please embrace the more relaxed atmosphere.

Phones, photography and recording

Please don’t make or take phone calls inside the auditorium.

Photography, filming or recording of a film is not permitted unless we have specifically given permission. This includes using a mobile phone or other recording device.

There may be special events where photography or filming is part of the experience. We’ll make this clear when appropriate.

Be kind to our volunteers and staff

The David Lean Cinema is volunteer-led, and many of the people you meet are giving their time because they care about film and about the cinema’s place in our community.

Please treat our volunteers, staff and fellow audience members with courtesy and respect.

We understand that people can occasionally be frustrated or disappointed. We are always happy to listen and help where we can, but we won’t accept abusive, threatening or discriminatory behaviour.

Alcohol and behaviour

You’re welcome to enjoy a drink from our bar, including alcoholic drinks, in accordance with our licensing requirements.

Please drink responsibly. We may refuse to serve alcohol or ask someone to leave if they are intoxicated or their behaviour is affecting the safety or enjoyment of others.

Smoking and vaping

Smoking and vaping are not permitted inside the cinema.

Please follow any instructions from our volunteers or staff about where you may smoke or vape outside the building.

If something goes wrong

Most visits to the David Lean pass without a problem, but occasionally we may need to step in if someone’s behaviour is seriously disrupting a screening or affecting the safety or enjoyment of other people.

If this happens, we’ll try to resolve the situation calmly and respectfully. Depending on the circumstances, we may ask someone to change their behaviour, leave the auditorium or leave the cinema altogether.

In serious cases, or where someone’s behaviour presents an ongoing concern, we may refuse admission on a future occasion.

We hope this is rarely necessary. Our aim isn’t to police how people enjoy a film — it’s to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy theirs.

A shared experience

The David Lean Cinema belongs to its community. Our audiences are at the heart of what we do, and we want the cinema to feel welcoming whether you’re visiting for the first time or you’ve been coming for years.

Thank you for helping us look after this shared space, and for giving the people around you the same chance to enjoy the film as you have.

If we need to refuse admission

We reserve the right to refuse admission, or ask someone to leave, where this is necessary for the safety, security or enjoyment of our audiences, volunteers or staff, or where these Terms of Admission or our other policies have not been followed.

Where admission is refused because of an age restriction, we’ll follow the relevant BBFC classification and the rules set out above.

We hope this is rarely necessary. Most visits simply involve enjoying a good film and being considerate of the people around us.