Location

On the corner of Eastcheap, just before the main shopping area of the town centre. The imposing art deco building makes the cinema unmissable, rising over the shallowly spread shopping area of the Garden City beyond.

The building

Built and opened in the 1930s to cater for the demand that The Palace cinema (built in 1908, since demolished in the 1980s) could not supply on its own. As a result the cinema is quintessentially art deco, from its angular architecture, to the spacious octagonal foyer that has changed very little since its opening. The original screen housing 1,420 seats was divided into three in 1996 in order for the cinema to compete with the Cineworld multiplex that opened in Stevenage, just one month after the refurbishment had finished. Despite this, The Broadway's main screen has kept its art deco theme, housing the screen on a stage with a natural auditorium. In 2008, the cinema expanded further, opening a fourth 50-seat screen, installing disabled access and refurbishing the seats in every screen. The commitment shown to the building's heritage and the consideration of the audience's comfort allow the Broadway to create a cinema-going experience which cannot be found at chain multiplexes. (Particularly the wretched Cineworld in Stevenage.)

The clientele

The Broadway is a community-minded cinema, and as a result actively encourages the participation of all members of the local population. The weekday pricing of £4.50 per film substantially undercuts that of the local multiplex. This caters for the large proportion of their audience, ensuring a reasonable crowd for most of their showings. The cinema also offers a series of special screenings each week to cater for the outer strands of the local population. The Silverscreen is a showing of the week's biggest release for the older generation, with the volume turned up for a dialogue-oriented film and turned down if its action-dominated. The cinema also runs the Big Scream for parents with babies and a Kids Club on a Saturday morning. Each of these screenings are cheaper than the regular price. The cinema aims to provide a service relevant and enjoyable to every member of the community, and if the occasional queues down the street are anything to go by, they are succeeding.

The programme

The cinema shows mainly the biggest releases, particularly those which appeal to a family audience. Up until 2008 only the most popular horror franchises would be screened, but since I have come to associate the fourth screen with the 18-rated films of recent years. Having the smaller screen has enabled the cinema to expand its repertoire into slightly more niche markets. The cinema also houses the town's film club, who have a monthly screening of older art house releases voted for by club members. The screenings are open to the public, providing the opportunity to see some art house and foreign language films without having to travel into London.

Further comments

Run by the town's Heritage Foundation to provide the local community with a service, The Broadway is less interested in making a profit than simply covering its costs. As a result the cinema is able to genuinely hold its own against direct competition from a multiplex and provide unique opportunities throughout the community. I remember my 13-year–old self being marched from my school to the cinema for a free screening of The Day After Tomorrow (2004) for my school's biannual "science" festival. Since then, the cinema has become involved in National Schools Film Week, providing free screenings to school children in Letchworth. The cinema also offers its screens for charity events, such as the screening of Grease (1978) in March for the Children's Liver Disease Foundation. The Broadway actively tries to expose as much of the local population as possible to the power of cinema, a truly unique endeavour in these corporate-minded times.

However, having recently left my suburban home to explore the experience that is the University of East Anglia, I have come to realise the main attraction of the Broadway cinema for me. This tiny, inconsequential independent cinema still exhibits its films on 35mm. Now, I know 35mm has its detractors, but I grew up spending much of my free time in the Broadway and associate the endearing imperfections on the reel with the cinemagoing experience. An experience that cannot be found in Norwich, nor can it be found in many places in the UK. But in this tiny pocket of Hertfordshire there is a whole generation, my generation, growing up with it as the norm – and there is something rather heart-warming about that, is there not?

The Twitter view

@gavinmidgley

Good little cinema – saw Alien there during a short sci-fi season they ran. Nice atmosphere, comfortable experience.

@joncross17

In my youth The Broadway was the cheapest cinema in Britain (50p). It was a dump then but lovely now.

@gonnahayt

Poor sound but comfy seats and it was only place local that showed Tree of Life.

@Slartybart42

Largest screen in Herts, art deco character with multiplex choice.

@mathewkhan

A pleasant, almost vintage-feeling movie house complete with the smell of v salted popcorn & those first teen date nerves.

@martincdunne

Sweetly old-fashioned design and friendly staff heighten the cinematic experience.

Is there a cinema you love (or hate) that you think our readers should know about? If you're interested in reviewing a cinema, email [email protected] with the subject line "Cine-files".