If someone suggested grabbing a bite to eat at a cinema, it would no doubt conjure up images of nachos, hot dogs and, of course, massive buckets of popcorn. At the Abbeygate Cinema in Bury St Edmunds, you can still grab your obligatory treats to eat while watching your chosen film – but with a dedicated restaurant and bar on-site, there’s a great deal more choice on offer.
Whether it’s coffee and cake in the morning, a relaxed lunch or an early evening meal before a film, the varied menu at No.4 Restaurant, located within the cinema on Hatter Street, has you covered. As well as the main menu, you’ll also find a kids’ menu at just £8.50 for a main, drink and dessert. There’s their ‘Discover & Dine’ offer where, on selected dates, you can enjoy a film screening and a two-course meal for just £15. There are also various special events throughout the year, pairing great films with great food for an afternoon or evening out with a difference.
There’s also free WiFi, so I headed in with my laptop on a Friday lunchtime to enjoy their current poke bowl deal over a working lunch. I’m not sure when the offer ends, but right now you can enjoy a small poke bowl and fries for £8 (or upgrade to large for £5 extra), with a choice of chicken, smoked salmon or wild mushrooms as your main topping.
The front room when you walk in is bright and airy, but I chose to sit at the back by the bar at a cosy table for two.
I love the fact that there’s plenty of cinematic decor, from the framed film posters on the walls to a small collection of books and VIDEOS (not even DVDs!) on a built-in shelving unit. There’s a tiny courtyard area out the back, too.
Having previously seen this post on Instagram, I knew I had to try one of the Abbeygate Cinema’s malted milkshakes for £6.50. I chose pistachio (of course), and it was an absolute delight. The shake itself was thick and creamy, the pistachio flavour came through strongly, and with squirty cream on the top too, it felt like a really decadent treat.
I decided to upgrade to the large poke bowl and fries (£13), which hit the spot. The fries were beautiful: nice and crisp, and with a deliciously spiced flavour rather than just the standard salt.
We’re always told to “eat the rainbow”, and this poke bowl at the Abbeygate Cinema makes the task easier! My choice of smoked salmon came finely chopped, sitting on a bed of perfectly-cooked rice. A veritable rainbow of ingredients surrounded it: fresh tomato and cucumber, grated carrot, nutty edamame beans, tangy pickled red cabbage and deliciously sweet chunks of watermelon. A rich dressing of sriracha, soy, honey and sesame added an extra depth of flavour, and I loved the textural addition of the crispy onions on top. Isn’t it a beauty?!
Initially, service was a little slow – it took quite a while to be able to order my food and drink once I’d sat down. With the team setting up for a function at the time, though, it’s understandable. Once I’d ordered, my lunch arrived pretty quickly, suggesting the Abbeygate Cinema could be a great location for those seeking an office lunch break. I’m already looking forward to heading back to try out more of the menu!