Welcome To
Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge
A stylish cinema with three screens and relaxed café-bar.
This page explains the current facilities for people with disabilities and is intended to assist you in planning your visit.
If you can't find your answer here, reach out to us on our dedicated accessibility line at 02072 947908 (Text Relay call 18001 02072 947908. Check out the Relay UK app for more details). The helpline is open Monday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, every day except Christmas Day.
Booking in advance online or by telephone is always a good idea – this means that our staff can readily provide any assistance you require. We're happy to reserve wheelchair spaces or seats for any particular part of the auditorium if this is helpful for customers with disabilities and accompanying carers are eligible for a free ticket. See here for more info on registering for and using a CEA Card to book your Carer tickets.
If you have any questions about your booking, we have a dedicated accessibility line: reach out on 02072 947 908 (Text Relay call 18001 02072 947908).
The accessible entrance to the building is on the right hand side. We have ramp access to both front entrances but the right sided entrance is where our lift is located which will take you to the first floor foyer where you can locate our Kiosk and our Bar/ Restaurant area on the second floor. Access to our cinema screens on the fourth floor are through a second lift which can be accessed from the kiosk area on the first floor. Steps from our accessible entrance to the first floor of Kiosk are 25 in total. From the first floor Kiosk to all three Screens on the fourth floor is 31, making the total from accessible entrance to the screens 56 steps in total.
Our toilets including our accessible toilet are on the first floor past the kiosk area. We have an unlocked door that has access to these. The Accessible toilet is on the left hand side when you are through to the toilet hallway. Accessible toilets are also fitted with baby changing facilities.
We do not have any parking facilities at the cinema, the nearest car park is at the Grand Arcade, a 7 minute walk (0.3 miles). There is also disabled parking out the front of the building.
All our screens are fully accessible to customers with limited mobility including wheelchair users. All screens are located on the fourth floor and are accessible to customers with limited mobility via a lift situated by our stairs to the screens on our first floor past the Kiosk. When you arrive at our Ushering point there is a long ramp down to all three Screen entrances.
All screens have dedicated wheelchair spaces, available in the following locations:
Screen 1: Row K, Left side of entrance, Seats 11 is a Companion seat,12 (Wheelchair Space no chair), Right side of entrance, Seats 24 is a Companion seat, 23 (Wheelchair Space no chair).
Screen 2: Row L, Seats 14 & 15, Accessed from our Screen entrance at our fourth floor ushering point along the back row of the screen, and Row A, Seats 1-2 (Wheelchair Space no chair) 3, Accessed through our third floor mezzanine entrance along the front row of the screen.
Screen 3: Row J, Seats 1 & 2 (Wheelchair Space no chair) 3 is a Companion seat, Accessed from our Screen entrance at our fourth floor ushering point along the back row of the screen, and Row A, Seats 1 & 2 (Wheelchair Space no chair) 3 is a Companion seat, Accessed through our third floor mezzanine entrance along the front row of the screen.
If you wish to book a wheelchair space, please mention this if you book over the phone or in person. Alternatively, you can contact us at [email protected] and we can ensure that space is kept free for you.
Aisles in our screens are located;
Screen 1: aisles are located in between seats J 7 & 8 as well as J 26 & 28
Screen 2: aisles are located next to seats K 1 and K 15
Screen 3: aisle is located next to seat J 1
Sofa seats are double seats with no armrest in between. These are sold as two seats and are located:
Screen 1: B6+7, B28+29
All seats have immovable armrests, and chairs are fixed together. The distance of the aisles between seats – from the front of one row of seats to the back of another – is approximately 1.1m. The distance of the aisles between seats – from the front of one row of seats to the back of another – is approximately 25cm wide. The seat base and back are 45 to 48cm wide; and 60 to 65cm wide including armrests.
The sofa seat's base and back are approx 120cm wide; 149cm wide including armrests. These are sold as two separate seats.
Screen 1
No. of seats: 246
No. of wheelchair spaces: 4
Able to run with audio description? Yes
Screen dimensions: 1143cm x 476cm
Screen 2
No. of seats: 153
No. of wheelchair spaces: 6
Able to run with audio description? Yes
Screen dimensions: 773.5cm x 284cm
Screen 3
No. of seats:106
No. of wheelchair spaces: 6
Able to run with audio description? Yes
Screen dimensions: 584.2cm x 243
Customers can request a set of headphones from the box office staff that will amplify the film soundtrack. We show subtitled (captioned) screenings each week, these will be clearly marked in the listings.
We offer regular Subtitled (Captioned) screenings, which provide a transcription of the audio from a film, displayed at the bottom of the cinema screen. Along with the dialogue from the film, the subtitles include non-dialogue audio such as "(sighs)" or "(door creaks)". Check the cinema's weekly listings for current available captioned screenings, which will be clearly labelled. Please note that not all films are provided with a Subtitled (Captioned) track, so some weeks we may have fewer subtitled screenings as a result.
We have hearing loops at all counters to aid interaction between staff and customers who use hearing aids. The hearing loop helps to amplify the spoken word and limit background noise which might otherwise be picked up by the hearing aid. To use the loop system, switch your hearing aid to the 'T' setting or loop program. No other equipment is needed.
Audio Description will be provided for all screenings where it is available (not all films come with an AD track). Screenings that have Audio Description will have an "AD" logo under the film time on our website. In order to use this service you will require a headset which you can get by speaking to any member of staff. We are happy to offer Large Print versions of our weekly listings flyer on request. You can request this from our Kiosk desk on the first floor and they will have a manager bring this to the front desk.
Audio Description (AD) is available in all screens.
Audio Description (AD) is a narrated soundtrack where the action, scene changes and the actors' body language is described for people with sight loss. This additional soundtrack is broadcast through wireless headsets so only the wearer can hear it, and fits within the silent gaps in a film so it doesn't interfere with the dialogue. Headsets are available to borrow at the box office.
AD is available for every film where an AD track has been created by the distributor. To find out if a performance is available with Audio Description, please check the film listings on our website where they are clearly identified, ask a member of staff at the cinema, or contact the Accessibility Helpline.
Guide dogs are welcome. If you wish to take a dog to a performance, please let us know when booking so we can arrange an aisle seat. We will be happy to provide drinking water for your dog.
Dementia Friendly Screenings are open to all, but aim to make cinema more accessible to local dementia communities by providing a friendly and inclusive experience for people living with dementia. The lights are left on low, there are no adverts or trailers and the audience is allowed to move around. There is also an interval halfway through the film.
Each cinema has a set day each month for their Dementia Friendly screenings. Find all Dementia Friendly Screenings here.
Our relaxed Autism Friendly screenings are adapted in a variety of ways to help reduce anxiety and overstimulation and ensure a safe, enjoyable cinema experience for people with autism, learning difficulties and/or other sensory sensitivities, and their families, friends and carers.
Autism Friendly Screenings are ad and trailer-free. The lights are left on low throughout the film, and will be played at a reduced volume. The audience is free to move around, make noise, take breaks and leave and re-enter the screen whenever needed.
We have a third floor mezzanine area that is between our Screens and Kiosk area that can be used as a break-out space.
The full list of our upcoming screenings can be found here. Screenings are updated regularly.
If you can't find your answer here, reach out to us on our dedicated accessibility line at 02072 947908 (Text Relay call 18001 02072 947908. Check out the Relay UK app for more details). The helpline is open Monday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, every day except Christmas Day.
Find out more about booking a free carer place with a CEA card, our dedicated Accessibility Helpline, and our Autism Friendly and Dementia Friendly screenings at www.picturehouses.com/accessibility.