A Cinema with a River View - or should that be Vue? (Vue Cinema Reading)

Member Name: azana

Product:	Vue Cinema Reading
Date:	22/09/09 (140 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: modern, clean

Disadvantages: no real range of films shown

There can be few cinemas with such a prime location as Vue Reading. Nestled on the river side, in the heart of Reading, right next to the Oracle centre and a short walk from the station, Vue Reading is a modern and deceptively large cinema.

There are 10 screens in all; this being a chain cinema you won't find this cinema showing many "arty" films - but all the blockbusters and new releases are generally available. Parking is in the adjacent Oracle carpark, a short lift ride away, and is at your own cost.

Tickets can be pre-booked on the Vue website at www.myvue.com ; I find this worth doing even at the slight extra card cost of £2.50, as even at quite busy times the only ticket booths open can be those on the first floor, which means queing up with those buying quite expensive popcorn. There are 3 tills on the ground floor in the rather small lobby, but these are often closed or at times when they are open rather frantic. By reserving online you can also pick the exact seat you want and see how large the auditorium is, as they do vary. I have always found printing out ticket in the machines in the lobby to be quick and hassle free.

You will also find up to date ticket prices on the website, at my last visit the adult price was £7.65, a child £5.75, with concessions available. A particularly good deal is the popular "kids AM" which runs at the weekend and every day during school holidays, with tickets being a bargain 95p each at the time of writing. The cinema also participates in the Orange Wednesday scheme, and if you are a member of www.seefilmfirst.com you are likely to be offered free viewings here too.

This cinema has all the usual offerings - as well as the aforementioned dual snack and ticket booth, there is also a sweet stand, icecream and most recently a dvd dispenser machine, for some strange reason.

I have been coming to the cinema regularly for the last couple of years and find it to be the most pleasant place in my area to see a film. The seats are much more comfortable than at the other Reading cinema, The Showcase (actually located in Winnersh), and generally the sound and lighting are good, and seats are well staggered on quite an incline. Two of the screens are also equipped for 3-D.

Booster seats are available for children on request, though if booking online if you select the seats in the second section of seats you will find yourself on a raised platform with no one in front of you, which I personally find makes for a good film viewing - if anyone was going to end up behind the world's most fidgety person with a big hairstyle it would be me. Actually it has been me before at other times and in other places.

That this particular cinema the staff are polite and helpful in the main, and everything is clean and innocuous, and not looking too worn or dated.
The cinema is accessible to all, there is access to every screen for those in wheelchairs, and hearing assistance in all screens for those who need it. If visiting with small children the only way down from the cinema after a showing is via some quite steep open stairs, which can be quite scary at peak times as people rush out, so you are advised to either head out speedily or wait for the rush to subside.

You will find plenty of restaurants and bars right next to the cinema, as well as the Oracle for shopping.

Overall this is a good place to see a film, it may be a bit souless, but it is modern, comfortable and a perfectly pleasant, I just wish it offered a more adventurous range of films.

Summary: a cinema in the heart of Reading