5 Best Independent Cinemas in Bath – Explore screenings beyond your usual choices
For independent cinemas in Bath, start at the Little Theatre Cinema on St Michael’s Place, a two-screen picture house open since 1935. Then widen the net to Komedia’s film nights, the FilmBath festival, the Bath Electric Picture House film society and Everyman’s sofa screens. One honest caveat: the two permanent cinemas aren’t independently owned any more, since the Little Theatre belongs to Picturehouse and Everyman is a national chain. Their programmes still reach far beyond the multiplex.
Why Bath’s film scene works differently
Bath is small enough to walk. The Little Theatre sits about seven minutes on foot from Bath Spa station, and Everyman is in SouthGate, a few streets away. So a double bill across two venues is a real option on a Saturday, which isn’t true in most cities.
The other quirk is the buildings. FilmBath’s festival moves screenings into rooms that were never meant for projectors, and past programmes have used these spots:
- Bath Abbey
- No. 1 Royal Crescent
- the Museum of East Asian Art
- BLOC at Burdall’s Yard
- Bath Pavilion
That’s the advice that changes here. Check the venue as closely as the film, because a screening at the Royal Crescent is a different evening from one in a sofa-lined screen. Organisers of one-off screenings face the separate task of filling seats, and the Indiana PR Catalogs site sits in the publicity trade. The numbering below organises the list and isn’t a ranking.
1. The Little Theatre Cinema
Consuelo de Reyes and her husband, stage designer Peter King, built the Little Theatre in 1935 as a news theatre showing documentaries and newsreels. Features arrived in 1939, and a second screen opened in 1979 in the old scenery store. Documentaries remain a core strand, alongside National Theatre Live and opera broadcasts. One practical note: Screen 2 is up 32 steps, with no lift.
2. Komedia Bath
Komedia on Westgate Street is mainly a comedy and live-music venue, with cinema as its third string. That makes it the place for event screenings such as the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, where the crowd matters as much as the film. Don’t expect a daily listings page. Check the calendar when a touring film night appeals.
3. FilmBath
FilmBath runs the Bath Film Festival, and its 36th edition takes place from 16 to 25 October 2026, with more than 50 films and events. The deadline is close. Screenings spread across the Little Theatre, Everyman, Komedia and unusual rooms around the city, including a 60th-anniversary showing of Carry On Screaming at No. 1 Royal Crescent. Book the odd-venue events first, since those rooms hold the fewest seats.
4. Bath Electric Picture House
This newer film society, based at 32 Belvedere, announced its first season for August to October 2026. It shows classics, director retrospectives and documentaries, each followed by an informal discussion. Friend membership costs £60 a year and gives priority booking a week ahead. Dates are confirmed through its mailing list, so sign up rather than waiting for posters. It suits people who want to talk about the film afterwards.
5. Everyman Bath
Everyman at 6-8 Dorchester Street runs five screens, the smallest seating just 12, with sofa seating and food served to your seat. Its programme leans mainstream, but strands like Throwback screenings, Silver Screen, Baby Cinema and National Theatre Live widen it. It’s the comfort pick. For a subtitled art-house release on opening week, the Little Theatre is the safer bet.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Little Theatre accessible for wheelchair users?
Screen 1 is, via a ramp set up on request, with one wheelchair space. Screen 2 isn’t, because it’s up 32 steps.
Can I hire a Bath cinema for a private event?
Yes. The Little Theatre’s Screen 1 can host wedding ceremonies for up to 110 guests, and Everyman hires out its screens for parties and private screenings. Couples sharing a cinema wedding story with local press could look at FloridaPRServices as one PR option.
Where do I find foreign-language films?
The Little Theatre shows them most often. Festival week adds many more across the city, and anyone promoting a film club could browse the Ohio PR Wire page too.
Book the festival before Friday
With FilmBath opening on 16 October, pick two festival screenings now, ideally one in an unusual venue. Smaller film groups planning their own announcements can look at Tennessee local PR later. After the festival, a Little Theatre membership is the best way to keep seeing films off the multiplex track.
