Cinephiles who already make a beeline for the BFI’s London Film Festival or its themed seasons dedicated to specific directors or stars should consider taking out an annual membership (from £39). As well as priority booking, it gives you decent discounts on tickets, food and drink sold on-site, BFI shop purchases, and film rentals.
Hidden perk: For the first 24 hours of general sale, only members can book a seat on Member Row, an area of 24 choice seats at BFI Imax. They are quite literally the best (and most prestigious) seats in the house, at the UK’s biggest cinema screen.
Odeon
In the streaming age, some films still demand to be seen on the big screen. Regular cinemagoers can save a small fortune by signing up for a scheme such as Odeon’s myLIMITLESS. For £16.99 a month, you can see as many films as you like at any Odeon cinema, while receiving discounts on on-site food and drink, a discount on tickets for family and friends, and a special birthday treat.
Hidden perk: Instead of waiting for general release, members can see the hottest films early at advance members screenings.
Cineworld
The popular cinema chain’s “Unlimited” membership (from £12.99 a month) lives up to its name: you can see as many films as you want.You are also entitled to pre-book, get discounts on snacks and drinks and access advance screenings. And on your birthday, you get free popcorn.
Hidden perk: Your Unlimited card gets you 25 per cent off the bill at partner restaurants, including Banana Tree, Café Rouge, Las Iguanas, and Bella Italia.
Picturehouse
The charming independent cinema group, which has distinctive venues everywhere from London to Edinburgh and Bath to Brighton, and screens art-house offerings alongside Hollywood films, also has a great membership scheme (from £65 a year). Enjoy discounts on tickets, food and drink, priority booking, exclusive preview screenings, access to the Members’ Bar in each venue, and between five and 10 free tickets, depending on which scheme you choose.
Hidden perk: You also get discounts from Picturehouse’s fantastic range of partners, which include the Japan Centre, the London Review of Books, Mubi, and TodayTix.
