Watershed

The Watershed is one of Bristols true gems, nestled on the waterfront, it offers a bit of everything — quirky postcards and greeting cards, to a café/​bar, and even a cinema.
My recent trip was to go to the Encounter Film Festival — which was on it’s 20^th anniversary — and what a great venue this was. I’d never been to the cinema here before, but knew that it specialised in independent films (something I personally love), and it really was special, comfy chairs, and is the same size as cinemas used to be, so felt cosy as well.
Well worth a visit — I will most certainly be going back — a lot I hope.

A great selection of beers and ciders if you just want a drink and a varied array of great films.
And now you can even take glasses through in to the cinema rather than having to change to plastic! Like, like, like!
Great beer, cider and movies.

Lot’s of varied films, great to get away from the hollywood blockbusters. Very clean, comfortable seats & great audio. must visit for any true film fanatic.

Good art house stuff.

The Watershed is possibly the best cinema in the world, with perhaps the exception of the Cornerhouse in Manchester and FACT in Liverpool. With these it shares equal footing, although you don’t get exhibitions at the Watershed like you do at FACT, which is a shame in my estimations.
What you do get is a great choice of indie films at this art house cinema in the centre of town. With three screens to choose from there’s always something worthwhile on the programme. This month they are playing host to The Festival of Ideas which «aims to stimulate people’s minds and passions with an inspiring programme of discussion and debate throughout the year».
«Established in 2005, the Bristol Festival of Ideas emerged out of Bristol’s bid to be Capital of Culture in 2008. Although this was not successful in terms of winning the bid, the partners behind the project made the commitment to deliver as much of the programme as possible. By 2008 much of the programme had been delivered».
Watershed also participate in several film festivals, some mainstream and some lesser known, more quirky indie affairs. You can find out more about these at:

With talks, workshops, seminars, and festivals, the Watershed is a creative hub that plays a seminal role in supporting the cultural wealth of the city.

The Watershed is a welcome break on that row of bars and clubs by the waterside. Where all the other venues simply exist to be a bar where the rowdy Saturday crowd revel in, the Watershed is more focused on socialising, good food, and screenings of movies with depth and intelligence.
Much like the Little Theatre is to Bath, the Watershed is a must –go for more alternative, independent films. I love coming here to watch films because you are ensured that every film being shown is a good film, and not something brainless that you might waste your money on. The cinema rooms are a fraction of the size of a big cinema like the Odeon, which just adds more charm to the movie watching. It feels much more intimate, comfortable and private. Much like you’re watching a good secret.
Prices are good too, if you come here for a film before 4pm, rates are £4.50 (£3.50 concessions), which is a real good price for a good film. After 4pm, prices go up to £7 (£5.50 concessions).
They have movies and documentaries for children too, during their Cinekids days, where kids pay £2 for a movie, and £3.50 for accompanying adults. Plus their Cinebabies days (which I think is such an amazing idea), where parents can bring their under 12 month old babies to watch a movie! The Watershed provides great facilities like a place to change nappies, and even a bottle warming service! This is super for parents to enjoy a film with their newborns, and get to know other new mom’s around.
The watershed is such a great place, all the years I’ve been going here, it’s never disappointed me in terms of the films they screen, or the friendly service they give you when you’re here.

The last time I was here was for a Free Graffiti light workshop which was great fun. We got to hang outside and draw using led lights. It all started off quite innocently but as the night drew in there were less pictures of fish, cocktail classes and more depictions of puking and violence. The area itself does seem to have an edgy feel about at evening time. The Watershed as a venue is fantastic, a great place to come and find something thought provoking to watch. If you are flexible about time, its possible to come and see a movie here for only £4.50, bargain! The café bar is an open light space and its nice to enjoy a pre /​post cinema drink. Keep an eye on the website as along with the Cube, its a cinema that shows different weird and wonderful films that you won’t see plastered all over buses.

This venue ticks multiple boxes; great location — yes, three screen cinema — you bet, delicious treats in a cool café — absolutely. Add to this a media centre and host to numerous conferences, fairs and exhibitions and you have a unique and well-​loved Bristol institution.
Situated on the Waterfront the Watershed serves so many purposes. The cinema is great for catching documentaries and foreign films and the café/​bar is great for a central coffee or after work pint. I particularly love coming here when the annual BBC Wildlife festival is on as there is a whole week of films about animals, like classic documentaries such as Grizzly Man and March of the Penguins.
The theatres are quite small but the seats are large and comfy. There are free computers for use at the back of the bar and a delightful balcony to sit and chill out on when the weather is good.

The Watershed is Bristol’s best independent cinema, showcasing a variety of arthouse and foreign films you just won’t see anywhere else. The programme changes monthly and often features a series of themed films looking at anything from gay and lesbian cinema to a featured director to animé.
There are also regular workshops relating to the cinema industry with open attendance, usually for a relatively small fee. It’s also worth keeping an eye open on the website for other events as the Watershed often gets involved in some of Bristol’s arts festivals.
As if that all wasn’t enough, there’s even an excellent café-​bar overlooking the waterfront with a welcoming atmosphere, a wide selection of specialist beers and good food on offer.

There’s so much to love about the Watershed– it’s in an incredible location, it shows really inspiring independent movies as well as the bigger critics choice films and the bar and café is awesome. The only drawback is if you’ve been to see a film late on a Friday and Saturday you have to run the gauntlet of so many drunken idiots spilling out of all the harbourside pubs and clubs. A total buzz kill and way to snap you back into it after peacefully watching a really good film. The cinemas themselves are pretty tiny but really comfortable and they always have a great programme of events ongoing. But even if you are just looking for a relaxed lunch in a great setting the Arnolfini ticks all the boxes. There’s tables out on a balcony overlooking the water or you can sit in the lovely barn-​style space. They serve lovely home-​cooked foods like Moroccan tagine and vegetable koftas and operate a plot to plate policy in conjunction with The Better Food Company in St Werburgh’s so all the food is locally and ethically sourced.

For a movie experience that is a little different, go to the Watershed which guarantees to only play independent films… well, that’s what they say. In my opinion, it’s gone a bit more mainstream recently, as some of the films you can see in Odeon or Showcase. The cinema rooms are massive and the sound system is awesome. The showcase is a multifunctional venue an can be used for lectures and conferences. The café/​restaurant at the top of the building is a lovely place to sit and watch the boats go past.

The watershed is an excellent multipurpose venue on the harbourside in the city centre. It’s main purpose is a cinema, which shows mainly alternative and art house films. The three screens double up, however, as conference and meeting rooms, and provide a really decent space for speeches and seminar type events.
The café/​bar splits the cinema area from the purpose built meeting rooms at the other end of the building. The café offers teas, coffees, alcohol and fairly priced meals (try the nachos, they’re really good!). It’s an excelelent space, a good venue and a cinema all in one — definitely a cultural establishment that Bristol should be proud of.

The Watershed function spaces are great for small to medium conference events. They are multifunctional; the three cinema rooms (seating 43, 102 and 198 respectively) offer comfortable, air conditioned lecture spaces and the watershed 1, 2 and 3 rooms can be used individually or joined together to create a large space. The café/​bar/​restaurant sits between the cinemas and function rooms, offering food, drink and free wireless Internet.
The staff are extremely hospitable; catering for all of your needs throughout the running of the event; from setting up spaces, to catering and even running last minute photocopying or printing. The Watershed is newly refurbished, clean and welcoming and in an ideal central location.

Café is upstairs from the entrance lobby. Excellent and relaxed venue for a spot of lunch, particularly if vegetarian as most dishes fall into this category. Nice location too. The clientele seem to range from the «arty» type, probably there for the cinema to the business types there for conferences. High chairs available for babies.

The cinema plays host to the Viva Spanish Film tour every year and shows some lesser know (ie. Non-​Hollywood movies). The cinema auditorium is marvelous, plenty of leg room, spacious, clean and with super acoustics. The pricing is also in line with other more commercial cinemas. The Last movie I went to see included a short talk by someone who was fairly central to its production followed y someone from the University’s media/​film society which was a bonus!

The watershed cinema is great. It is an independent cinema and screens films that are harder to find. A lot of them are not English or from the USA and they are not necessarily what is appealing or advertised as commercial. There is a café right next to the cinema and a little shop with cards and dvds down stairs in the entrance. There is festival on short films going on this week in fact!

If you like art films, foreign language films, documentaries, and an interesting selection of films you probably won’t see in the chain cinemas, this is the place for you!
The Watershed is located on the waterfront, and has a small gift shop in the ticket selling area. The theatres are located on an upper level, and there is a lift to take you there as well as stairs.
The Watershed is more of an arts complex than just a cinema. There is a nice café on the upper level with a bar, a few areas for lounging and chatting, computer access, and various programmes throughout the month (I have attended art showings and a film writer’s seminar) which are listed online as well as in a booklet available there and in random places around Bristol.
Though the cinemas have been updated, they are still rather small compared to most mainstream cinemas. The seats aren’t the most comfy or have great legroom, and they don’t serve the usual cinema fare (which some will say is a blessing!).
But, if you want to see interesting films you won’t see elsewhere in a theatre setting, this is the place to be. Plus, they occasionally have the directors on hand for the premier showing with a Q&A afterwards.
If you love film (and not just what you would see at a multiplex), this is the place to be!