There’s nothing wrong with a Tango Ice Blast at the Odeon with a big old scoop of Ben & Jerry’s to really double down on the brain freeze. Nothing at all. Sometimes, though, you just want to get lost in a film in cooler surroundings and support some local independents in the process—but where? If you’re looking for something a little off the beaten track to impress a date or venture out on a solo cinema trip more secretly, we’ve got you covered.

If you’re from around this neck of the woods, you might already know a few of these hidden gems but if you’re visiting the city (and surrounding areas), let us put you in the loop. From Liverpool city centre to a farm over the water on the Wirral, shoot these lesser-known screens straight to the top of your hit list.

20230516 Small Private Cinema Screen In Cafe Tabac Liverpool — **A small, private cinema screen at Cafe Tabac** Cafe Tabac

Screen Tabac

Cafe Tabac is a Liverpool treasure. We must protect it at all costs. It opened in 1974 and sent the city reeling with news of closure in 2020 as a result of the pandemic—but we saved it. Today, this ‘beating heart of the city’ is alive and well and with it’s post-pandemic makeover came a secret screening nook aptly named Screen Tabac.

Dubbed the smallest cinema in Liverpool, this is a cosy, intimate affair. Classic cafe-bar seating replaces traditional cinema seats for a chill, laidback vibe. On the screen, every Tuesday evening from 7pm, is a roster of nostalgic cult classics and timeless blockbusters, from The Shining to Moulin Rouge. Behind the bar are award-winning cocktails, big gulp specials and of course, bags of sweet ’n’ salty popcorn.

Entry is free but don’t hang about because it fills up fast. Check out the website to stay up to date with the monthly film listings. Screen Tabac is also available for private hire six nights a week, so if this is something that piques your interest, give ‘em a shout.

Cafe Tabac 126 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4JA

20230516 Moonlight Flicks Claremont Farm Outdoor Cinema Wirral — **Catch a moonlight flick over at the outdoor cinema at Claremont Farm** Claremont Farm

Moonlight Flicks at Claremont Farm

Fancy a trip out of the city? Navigate yourself to Claremont Farm on the Wirral to catch a Moonlight Flicks showcase in rustic, rural surroundings. The Flicks are screened throughout the warmer summer months, kicking off with Grease on Friday 21st July and ending strong on Matilda the Musical for the August bank holiday Monday. Find the full film list and screening dates on the Claremont Farm website or Moonlight Flicks website.

The outdoor cinema is a bit of a locals’ secret and it can sell out fast so look lively if you fancy pulling up a deck chair or a beanbag and plonking yourself in front of the giant al fresco screen. Take note: all food and drink consumed must be bought on the premises. It shouldn’t be too much of a chore, though, with fresh food from the Claremont kitchen, using local produce and delicious pizza from The Doughbros.

Claremont Farm Old Clatterbridge Road, Bebington, Wirral CH63 4JB

20230516 Hope Street Hotel Secret Cinema Screen Liverpool — **Hope Street Hotel Secret Cinema** Hope Hotel

Hope Street Hotel Cinema

Hope Street Hotel is one of the most coveted places to eat, drink, stay and spa in Liverpool, you don’t need us to tell you that—but did you know it’s also home to a secret cinema?

Yup, that’s right, on the first floor of the hotel, in one of the 1851 wings of the original School for the Blind, is a 39-seat cinema screen complete with plush velvet sofas. The space includes beautiful original pine beams, arched windows and exposed brick, so it’s a unique place to catch a film and crunch your way through an offensive amount of popcorn, to say the least. Keep an eye on the hotel’s website and socials to find out when the next public showcases are.

The cinema has its very own bar and event space, which makes it especially popular for private hire. So, if you want to feel like a Kardashian for a day and hire a private cinema out for you and the fam, you know where to go. Some people even hire the space to screen their wedding videos to their nearest and dearness, n’awww!

Hope Street Hotel 40 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9DA

Everyman Cinema Liverpool

Everyman Cinemas are no great secret but Liverpool’s Everyman is easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it so consider this your PSA. Tucked away at the back of the Metquarter shopping centre, this boutique cinema is the perfect sweet spot between classic and contemporary. Classic in a red velvet, warm popcorn, low lighting way; contemporary in an order food and drink to your seat and stay for more after kind of way.

Turn up, grab a drink at the bar, take it through to your squishy sofa or armchair and then have your dinner and snacks served to your seat while you watch. Dreamy. It’s pricier than your average cinema but you can be sure you’re sharing the space with fellow film buffs who appreciate the value of the experience. Not rapscallions who snook in without paying for a ticket to watch TikToks through the trailers. Tut, tut.

Everyman Cinema 35 Whitechapel, Liverpool, L1 6DA

Read Again: Explore an underground treasure with Friends of Williamson Tunnels

Get the latest news to your inbox

Get the latest food & drink news and exclusive offers by email by signing up to our mailing list. This is one of the ways that Confidentials remains free to our readers and by signing up you help support our high quality, impartial and knowledgable writers. Thank you!