🎬 About the Electric

The Electric Cinema is tucked into Portobello Road at number 191 - a beautiful Edwardian building that's been showing films for well over a hundred years. It only seats 83 people, which is part of what makes it so special. It feels intimate in a way that bigger cinemas simply can't replicate.

Inside, you'll find leather armchairs, two-seat sofas, and - the thing people come back for - a row of actual double beds at the front. Blankets provided. Footrests. A fully licensed bar. It sounds decadent because it is, a little, and that's entirely the point.

The Electric is managed by Soho House, which means it's well run, reliably good, and slightly more grown-up than your average multiplex. It draws a mix of locals, date-nighters, film lovers, and visitors who've heard about it and made it a specific reason to come to this part of London. All of them leave happy.

🍿 What's on this summer

The Electric programmes a brilliant mix of new releases and curated seasons - it's not just a mainstream cinema, and that's what makes it worth paying attention to.

This summer they're running a musicals season - think sing-alongs and beloved classics on the big screen in an intimate setting. It's the kind of thing that sounds a bit silly until you're actually there, at which point it becomes one of the better evenings you've had in a while.

They also regularly screen Notting Hill - the film, obviously - which sells out every time and feels genuinely magical given you're watching it about 200 metres from where it was filmed. If it's on during your stay, it's worth booking immediately.

Beyond the seasons, the Electric shows a thoughtful mix of current releases and all-time classics. Check the full programme at electriccinema.co.uk before you arrive - it updates regularly and the best seats go fast.

A few other things worth knowing:

• Baby screenings - Monday afternoons, slightly raised lighting and lower volume, for parents with infants under 2. A genuinely lovely thing to offer.
• Captioned screenings - weekly, for hearing-impaired guests. Check the website for times.
• Cult classics and one-off events - these come and go, so it's worth checking even if you think you know what's on.

🛋️ How to book - and what seat to choose

Book online in advance. The beds and double sofas sell out quickly, especially at weekends and for anything with a cult following. Don't assume you'll be able to walk in.

If you want a bed, book early and go for the front rows. If you'd rather sit upright and feel slightly more like you're at the cinema, the leather armchairs are excellent. Either way, arrive 15-20 minutes before the film starts - the bar gets busy and you'll want to order before the lights go down rather than during.

The cinema is fully licensed, so cocktails, wine, and beer are all on the menu. Snacks are available to order too. It's the kind of place where having a drink in your hand feels like part of the experience rather than an afterthought.

🍜 Where to eat before (or after)

The old Electric Diner next door has become Speedboat Bar - the second outpost of one of London's best Thai restaurants, originally from Chinatown. It's Bangkok-inspired, brilliantly spiced, and open late (midnight most nights, 1am on Fridays and Saturdays). The green mango chicken salad and crispy pork with black pepper curry are both worth ordering. It's the obvious first choice simply because it's right there - dinner and a film without moving more than a few steps.

If you fancy something different before the screening, here are a few other good options close by:

Permit Room, Portobello Road - Dishoom's all-day Bombay café, set inside a Victorian pub right on the street. It's buzzy, well-priced, and has the Dishoom magic in a more relaxed setting. Great for an early evening bite before a later film. The crispy spinach chaat is excellent.

Gold, Portobello Road - a modern European restaurant doing open-fire cooking at number 95-97. It's a bit more of a sit-down affair, so better suited to an earlier evening if you want a proper dinner before the cinema rather than a rushed one.

The Fat Badger, Portobello Road - a neighbourhood pub with a no-choice set menu upstairs that gets very good reviews. It's a slightly different format - you eat what they're cooking that day - but that's part of the appeal, and it's reliable, good value, and genuinely local in feel.

Los Mochis, Farmer Street - a short walk away for Japanese-Mexican fusion, and one of the more interesting menus in the area. Better for a pre-film dinner if you book in advance and aren't in a rush.

For something more casual, the Portobello Road food stalls on a Saturday are brilliant - and if you happen to be catching a weekend matinee, grabbing something from the market on the way in is a very good move.