The big new Everyman in King’s Cross is now open

Earlier this year, after a rainy Sunday afternoon movie, we decided that the teeny Everyman On The Corner is quite possibly our favourite cinema in London.

Just 32 seats, it’s more laidback, friendly and, er, cocktail-focused than any other picturehouse in the capital.

And now its three-screened big brother has opened up a couple of minutes’ walk east along the still-not-quite built Handyside Street. It occupies part of a shiny new mixed-use building called – fact fans – R7, designed by esteemed east London architects Duggan Morris.

Step inside – as we did at last night’s launch – and there’s something of a sociable ‘golden age of cinema’ feel to the airy atrium, with its gilt stairs, drapes, red velvet ticket booth, parquet flooring and signature glowing neon signs.

Upstairs is a spacious L-shaped panelled bar, itself worth a libation whether you’re seeing a film or not (we can highly recommend the espresso martinis. Hic.).

And the good news? The smaller original corner site will continue to operate as what they’re calling Screen 4. Best of both worlds then, in fact.