Frequently asked questions
How often do you show films?
Films are screened monthly on Thursday evenings during term time. Each film is usually preceded by a talk. Doors open at 6.30pm, talks begin at 7pm and are followed by the film at around 7.30pm unless otherwise stated. If a film is particularly long, we may begin it earlier to ensure we are out of the building by 10pm.
Where are you?
We are based in the theatre at St Vincent College in Gosport. Come into the college through the clocktower, turn right and then left around the corner of the building and the entrance will be in front of you.
Can I park my car?
We have plenty of free parking on site. Drive into the college grounds through the clocktower and follow the route around the building to find parking directly in front of the entrance. If the car park is full, additional parking can be found by entering the site via the Mill Lane entrance.
Who runs the cinema?
The Ritz at St Vincent is run by a dedicated team of volunteers and all profits are reinvested in the running of the cinema. If you would like to volunteer, please get in touch. We are very grateful for the support of Gosport Borough Council for providing financial support to the cinema.
How much do tickets cost?
Tickets for all our films at St Vincent are £5 for adults and £3 for students and children. Occasionally we work with the Gosport Theatre Organ Society to screen silent films with live organ accompaniment in Thorngate Halls. Tickets for these screenings are £10 for adults and £5 for children and students due to the extra costs involved. A family ticket for a silent film is £25.
Do I need to book in advance?
Tickets can be booked through our eventbrite site, there are links in the descriptions for each film. Tickets are also available on the door.
Can I pay with a card?
We are able to accept payment by both cash and card.
How big is the cinema?
The theatre can hold around 90 people on the ground floor, with capacity for another 28 upstairs, giving a total capacity of 118.
Why are silent films shown at Thorngate Halls?
The Compton Theatre Organ at Thorngate Halls is one of only four surviving organs of its kind and it was built for the specific purpose of accompanying silent films. Its mechanics occupy two whole rooms behind the stage so we obviously can’t bring it to St Vincent! Don’t miss the chance to hear this magnificent instrument, Gosport is very lucky to have it.
Do you have good facilities for disabled people?
Disabled access is excellent with the cinema being situated on the ground floor. Wheelchair users can enter the building via a gentle slope from the car park up to the automatic doors and from there it’s flat all the way into the front row of the auditorium.
Do you sell refreshments?
We sell tea, coffee, hot chocolate so you can enjoy a mug of your favourite hot drink while watching the film. We also offer a selection of canned drinks, sweets and chocolates as well as locally produced ice cream from Northney Dairy on Hayling Island.
Why are films only shown during term time?
We hire the theatre from the college for our screenings and this is much cheaper to do during term time. To open the cinema in holidays or weekends would require the college to open the building specially for us which would make the cost too high.
Can I hire the cinema for a private screening?
If you would like to use the theatre to screen a film, you can contact the college directly to make a booking. As volunteers, we aren’t available outside of our normal programme to support screenings but we are always keen to work with community groups as part of our regular programme. We have run screenings with Solent Brass, Portsmouth Military Wives Choir, Gosport Steampunk Society, Vanguard Comics, A Slice of Vinyl Records and many other local organisations and are always open to new collaborations.
Can I request a specific film?
We are always open to suggestions from our audience so let us know if there is something you would like to see and we will see if we can incorporate it into our programme.
Why do you show films later than other cinemas?
As a community cinema, we are not able to licence films on general release, nor do we have the specialised equipment needed to screen first run films. However, we try to screen recent films, especially films that our audience may have missed at the cinema the first time round.
Do you run any special event screenings?
All our screenings are special! Almost all films are preceded by a talk about the film. We are always keen to welcome guest speakers to add value to our films and we have enjoyed talks from the Gosport Diving Museum and Portsmouth University World Cinema Department in the past. Please let us know if you have a suggestion or could offer to do a talk for us.
The Ritz at St Vincent 