Spying in the Cube-icle

Having listened to my friends extolling its virtues throughout the years I was away at university, last night I finally made a visit to Bristol's microplex, 'The Cube'.

Tucked discretely down an alley in Kingsdown above the BRI, the venue certainly didn't disappoint. The orangey beamed low ceilings and half-staircases created an environment resting somewhere between a quirky European backpackers' hostel (the sort with sofa throws, free tea and cheap beer/ 'herbs') and a scout hut. It all felt very homely until I went into the ladies loos and found a peep-hole cut out of the side of my cubicle. I can only assume that The Cube once really was a scout hut and they haven't got around to filling it in yet. Either that or its meant to be a kind of voyeuristic extension of the viewing experience. (Sorry. Not for me. I'll be taking a tea-towel to hang up next time I go.)

Peep-shows excluded, the private members cinema (it costs £1 to join) boasts a daily changing programme of films from around the world along with a range of themed screenings, gigs and exhibitions. There's also a lounge and student style bar serving up an eclectic range of drinks and snacks which range from cocktails dashed together out of plastic bottles to yummy deserts and wasabi peas. There's also a programme of special events. This summer sees The Cube Summer Garden, a series of outdoor screenings featuring French and Japanese cinema which you can take with tea and cake.

Apart from the few slight discomforts (the hole in the loo and some of the most excruciating wooden seats any scout or guide could have possibly sat upon) , the only real damper on our evening, was the unannounced switching of the film. We thought we were going to see the French Moroccan 'Couscous', but instead found ourselves presented with Bertolucci's 'The Non-Conformist'. This wouldn't have been the most unwelcome of surprises - it is an excellent film - but given that we had, only a few months ago, tracked down a screening at another of Bristol's arts cinemas, it was largely due to laziness that we sat through the Italian classic again.

Communication is something The Cube could perhaps do with working on - that and an effort to sort out a few technical problems with their projectors (which I think may have explained the switch), but it would be a shame if this venue ever loses it's secret club-like feel. The prices are low (£2 for all on Tuesdays) which make a few unexpected occurrences acceptable and make me sure I will be visiting again.