The Living Room Cinema in Chipping Norton has announced its grand opening on Friday, 14 July 2023.
The opening film lineup includes Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Asteroid City, The Little Mermaid, Mad About the Boy: The Noel Coward Story, Oklahoma! starring Hugh Jackman, the forthcoming Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet season, in addition to a very special screening of Exhibition On Screens’ Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition with a Q&A with Artistic Director of Exhibition on Screen, Phil Grabsky on 03 August.
The opening night features a screening of the highly anticipated Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One on Friday, 14 July. The evening will support local charity Thrive North Ox, which provides practical support to children of struggling families in North Oxfordshire via a voluntary donation. In addition to attending the opening night screening of this summer’s blockbuster, guests will be treated to bubbly and nibbles and have the opportunity to be the first to experience Chipping Norton’s brand-new cinema.
Combining all the comforts of home with an elevated moviegoing experience, The Living Room Cinema Chipping Norton pairs two state-of-the-art screening rooms with a stylish cafe bar to bring world-class cinema to the heart of the community. By repurposing the long-empty shop front of the historic ‘Harpers’ building and transforming it into a destination venue, The Living Room Cinema Chipping Norton will support the local economy, working alongside other local businesses, stocking local products, and welcoming families back into the heart of the High Street.
Unlike the traditional cinema experience, the intimate surrounds of The Living Room Cinema Chipping Norton’s auditoriums are adorned with bespoke seating, including solo loungers and two-seater sofas, all made in the UK. The cafe bar, a welcoming social space, will be open all day. Patrons can expect speciality coffee served alongside hand-stretched sourdough pizzas, charcuterie and cheese boards, pastries and cakes in addition to warmed sweet and salty popcorn and all your favourite cinema concessions. In the evening, the cafe transforms into a vibrant destination venue serving hand-crafted cocktails, a stellar wine list and local, artisanal beers.
Founder and CEO Claire Beswick, formerly Head of Programming for Curzon and Odeon Cinemas, has curated a diverse programme for the summer. Guests can look forward to Oppenheimer, the latest thriller from Christopher Nolan, Pixar’s latest delight, Elemental, and the hotly anticipated Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie.
The Live Events series will give audiences the best seats in the house for streamed live music concerts, opera, ballet and theatre, and their “In Conversation With” series from The Living Room Cinema Liphook will be replicated in Chipping Norton, with the first guest being Phil Grabsky, the Artistic Director of Exhibition On Screen. Special guests at the Liphook cinema included Downton Abbey stars Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern; directors Simon Curtis (Downton Abbey: A New Era) and BAFTA-nominated Jim Archer (Brian and Charles); writer Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) and director of the National Theatre’s GOOD, Dominic Cooke.
The Living Room Cinema welcomes all with a range of concession-priced tickets available in addition to both standard and premium seating. The membership scheme offers a range of options, all of which are detailed on the website. The Living Room Cinema will be accessible and inclusive with subtitled, audio-described, autism-friendly, and parent and baby screenings.
Claire Beswick, Founder and CEO of The Living Room Cinema Chipping Norton, said: “We’re incredibly fortunate to be opening our doors when such a rich variety of films are available. Not only are we able to launch our cinema with the hotly anticipated ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’, but with our two auditoriums, we are creating a jam-packed film programme offering audiences the ability to see the latest blockbusters as soon as they hit the big screen.
“Alongside new releases, we have curated a selection of the finest independent film and documentaries – something a bit different and off the beaten track, which we know our audiences will love. Throw in some wonderful Event Cinema performances and some family films – both new releases and family favourites for the little ones in our Little Living Room, and we have an exciting collection of films on screen – there really is something for everyone! We are thrilled to have chosen Thrive North Ox as our charity partner and to be able to support the vital work that they do in the community.”
Andrea Ratcliffe, Founder and Trustee of Thrive North Ox, said: “Living in rural poverty as a child or teenager can have a devastating effect on self-esteem and education. It can result in children refusing to attend school because of ill-fitting uniforms, family can’t afford toiletries, or having to wear broken or second-hand shoes that are too big or small.
“This issue is real and present in the Chipping Norton OX7 area, and as a tiny, local charity, we strive to provide new, essential items to help build confidence and ambition. We can only continue to do our work with the support of lovely, community-focused businesses such as The Living Room Cinema, for whom we are incredibly grateful for choosing Thrive North Ox as their chosen charity at their forthcoming opening on 14 July in Chipping Norton.”
