L

et’s be honest, going to the cinema ain’t what it used to be.

For starters, those massive multiplexes all seem a bit samey, and watching another Hollywood remake has never been so expensive. Perhaps the big chains should take a hint from the Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds, which has a reputation for its old-fashioned charm.

The reels have been rolling in this dinky single-screen cinema since 1914, and if the queue round the block for one of the 275 sumptuous seats is anything to go by, they’re not done yet. Each week, mainstream releases show alongside independent, classic and art house flicks – and there are even special baby mornings for parents who get shushed elsewhere.

The original features of this Grade II-listed building transport you back in time, under the glow of gas lighting, and tickets are still sold from the outdoor booth by staff who greet regular visitors by name.

Oh, and at £4 a pop? What’s not to like?