About Us

Welcome to our delightfully charming and unique cinema located within the heart of the historic sector of Bury St Edmunds.

Abbeygate Cinema delivers a quality cinema event; a tasteful and refined theatre-like experience with a strong mix of arthouse, independent and quality mainstream films. We offer an enriched Screen Arts programme including Bolshoi, Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Metropolitan Opera.

Our private screen and function room hire offer versatile spaces for corporate functions, private parties and local festival events. Our weekly parent and baby screenings attract mums and dads within the local community who meet for coffee, chat and film and our great membership offering is hugely popular.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you don’t find the answer you are looking for here please see our FAQ

Wheelchair Access

The cinema and restaurant are fully accessible to wheelchair users; with a ground level disabled toilet and a lift to access the cinema screens.

We have wheelchair access seats available in both screens. We recommend that you contact us to confirm availability beforehand.

Limited Mobility Access

Our lift takes you to the main entrance of both screens.

Screen 1 has three initial steps leading up into the auditorium and then graduated steps leading down to the aisles from Row M to A.

Screen 2 has no steps in the auditorium, but does have a gentle slope down to the aisles.

Audio Description and Enhanced Soundtrack

All our auditoria are equipped with a system that delivers Audio Description (AD) or an enhanced soundtrack through a headset or a portable hearing loop. The AD runs every time a film with Audio Description is shown, and is undetectable to anyone not wearing a headset.

We show films with AD whenever the necessary files are made available by film distributors. Like a narrator telling a story, AD gives an additional commentary describing body language, expressions and movements. It gives information about things which are not made clear through the soundtrack. To reserve a headset or a portable hearing loop, please email us, call us on 01284 754477 or ask at the Box Office.

CEA Cards

Currently people who receive one of the following benefits are eligible for a CEA card:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA);
• Attendance Allowance (AA);
• Blind Persons Registration;
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP); and
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).

Customers who have a disability that means that they need a companion with them in the cinema can bring them to the Abbeygate Cinema free of charge with an official CEA card. The card can be used to book tickets (without a booking fee) in person, online or over the phone.

Ticket prices for customers with disabilities are according to their circumstances (e.g. adult, Member or student); the free ticket applies to their companion. The card must be used in conjunction with a paid-for ticket or a Member’s free ticket.

All customers for 3D screenings – including those using free tickets – will need to pay a small fee for use of the 3D glasses.

Relaxed Screenings

What makes these screenings special?

The lights will be left on low and you are all welcome to move around, talk or sing along as you wish. Free tea, coffee and biscuits will be on offer before the screening from 10:00 so that you can have a chat with others and get to know the space.

Why are we doing these screenings?

We want to ensure that we are accessible to the widest range of people as possible and we’re really excited to be able to incorporate showings specifically aimed at those impacted by dementia.

If you have any questions about these screenings then please feel free to ask us any questions on [email protected]. Alternatively, you can pop in and we’ll be happy to show you the space if it’s quiet enough to.