Me & a friend went to the newly refurbished privately owned Longridge Palace tonight.
It's been run by the same family for years but when they retired last year we feared for its survival.
A father & daughter eventually bought it last autumn. Unfortunately the father dies suddenly just around Christmas time so the daughter has been over seeing alterations on her own.
It now has a bar area & we had sangria & nibbles before we went in.
I was pleased to see they have kept the tradition of all standing for the National Anthem before the start of the film.
As for the film, we enjoyed it but felt it lacked something the first film had. Really missed Meryl Streep as she is only on at the end. We thought Cher brought nothing to the film at all but Lily James was the saving of the evening!
This was half if the queue waiting for the 8pm showing.
Three good things:
1. Supporting local enterprises.
2. New shoes!
3. Losing 3lbs.
Looks like you were lucky to get a seat ... We had to queue the same at our theatre the other night and no spare seats .. No Cher was a pointless addition .. but really enjoyed it... still had the feet tapping .. the lady next to me sang every song ... lucky she had a 'ok' voice....Fantastic they play the national athem at the start .. haven't seen that since I was a kid..
Interesting to see and read. I'm going tomorrow with Jenn and Christina. ....I heard someone say it was better than the first but I'll see for myself tomorrow. Ten years ago Allan, Laura, Susannah and I were in Durham and Cambridge and we saw the original in Durham! That was such a special time I can't imagine beating it!!
@julzmaioro@allie912@sarah19 So interesting hearing other people's views on the film. I did enjoy it but was slightly disappointed I must say. Could have been the cinema, the screen was smaller than we normally watch but I think it had a lot to live up to!
I went last Saturday and it is absolutely the best film I have EVER seen! I loved the original but this is even better. Thought Cher's part was perfect. Can't wait to see it again and again and get the dvd and cd. Sorry Pat.
@susiemc Now isn't that interesting Sue, just shows we all have alternative ideas about things we see. I'm glad to hear what everyone thinks, wouldn't do if we all thought the same. I would actually go & see it again if someone asked me though.
Mama Mia seems to be around a lot again! We had it in theatre, not the film. Good for this lady to keep going after her sad happening! As you say - important to support local. And 3lbs! Well done!
Looks like a beautiful place to see a movie -- interesting to read what you've thought. We won't be back before it leaves theaters...so it's TV viewing it sometime next year.
How nice that it has been restored. There is a retro cinema in Newcastle and they show current movies and old movies too. You may be interested in the link. https://www.regalcinema.org/
