‘Quirky’ is the word that inevitably comes to mind when describing the Lexi. The building, accessed by pushing open a quaint green garden gate, looks like it could have served as a library, or a youth centre, or maybe a church hall in its former life. Their website states the building actually used to be a derelict pool hall before becoming a cinema. Equally wacky is the message written on the front wall in big block capital letters, beseeching passers-by to 'love me'. Its location is unusual, too, being entirely surrounded by residential properties (although I believe there are pubs and eateries further south on Chamberlayne Road).
Inside the Lexi, there is a foyer and bar area where you can buy things like popcorn, crisps, sweet treats and even a cold beer, and there are two movie screens. The screening rooms are smaller than what you’ll be accustomed to at the big chain cinemas, however this creates an intimate, cosy setting to watch your film. In Screen 2, the seats were comfortable with plenty of leg room and the air con was pitched at just the right level. You won’t find many blockbusters at the Lexi but it’s not that kind of cinema. We were there to watch 'Last Man Standing', Nick Broomfield’s follow-up documentary to his 2002 film 'Biggie & Tupac', exploring the murders of rappers Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur, and before our film started, the trailers offered tasters of other documentaries, foreign language films and opera performances. These are movies for niche audiences but it’s good there is an outlet for them and going to the Lexi is a refreshing change from the cookie-cutter experience of seeing a film at the average high street multiplex.