Jam Jar Cinema

When I visited, in October 2016 for a screening of “Life on the Road”, starring Ricky Gervais, I was given a very warm welcome by founder Dan Ellis and his colleague Barbara. Dan was inspired to set up this not-for-profit, community interest company-run cinema when he noticed that people were having to travel some distance away from the town to the cinema. The Jam Jar Cinema, on the first floor of a former Job Centre, is certainly staffed by enthusiastic volunteers. There is a very pleasant bar/lounge. In the auditorium, the original 42 previously-unused Odeon ‘Premier’ seats have, since opening, been joined by four two-seater settees across the front, increasing the capacity to 50. With such a relatively small capacity many screenings sell out. There are also accessibility issues, as the only way up is via a steep flight of stairs. For these reasons, Dan is on the lookout for larger, more accessible premises. However, in the meantime, he and his team are doing a super job, and I wished him every success.