Covent Garden Hotel: Film Club

Firmdale Film Clubs, The Covent Garden Hotel
The Firmdale Hotel Group's weekend film clubs are fast becoming some of the best spots to watch classic films in London. In comfortable, indeed opulent surroundings, March and April's lineup at the Covent Garden Hotel is firmly focused on classics-in-the-making. If you missed some of this year's Oscars heavyweights, the Covent Garden Hotel is offering you the chance to catch up in their intimate 47-seater screening room, after enjoying a meal at their beautifully-appointed Brasserie Max, with two-course brunch, dinner or afternoon tea for £35.
The best films of the last year
The March season opens up with two sure-fire future classics: Alejandro Iñárritu's Oscar-winning Birdman (March 7^th and April 4^th), the tale of Michael Keaton's washed-up actor struggling – at times nobly, at times desperately – to regain credibility and artistic identity on the stage. Birdman is not only gloriously constructed and artfully shot but intelligent, picking apart the actor's lot with a moving self-awareness. After all, who has heard of Michael Keaton since his mediocre turns as Tim Burton's Batman?
Alongside Birdman comes the latest offering from reliably off-the-wall director Wes Anderson. The tale of an inter-war concierge and his faithful bell-boy The Grand Budapest Hotel (March 7^th) looks for all the world like Anderson's crowning glory – it's certainly one he'll be hard pressed to top. Ralph Fiennes is astoundingly good in his first comic role, as he careers about among a supporting cast laden with A-listers.
Next up is the eminently watchable Benedict Cumberbatch's turn as Alan Turing in the excellent The Imitation Game (March 14^th), a film which does justice to a story so remarkable as to need no fictional embellishment. Reese Witherspoon's mature performance in Wild (March 14^th, 15^th, 28^th), as well as a first big-screen appearance for Game of Thrones actor Kit Harrington in Testament of Youth (March 21^st) book-end a screening of the somewhat less salubrious American Sniper (also March 21^st), while Still Alice (April 11^th) is an opportunity to see Julianne Moore in the role which won her Oscars acclaim. Selma (April 18^th) heads up the remaining selection – head here for full listings.
On the menu
Before the evening screenings, cinephiles are invited to choose from Brasserie Max's highly-rated set menu. Starters include tuna ceviche with a fennel and apple salad, while mains of chicken, feta and spinach falafel or lamb with truffle and white bean cassoulet make for a difficult choice – but be sure to save room for the salted caramel and macadamia brownie.
For a small supplement you can also go à la carte: take your pick from pancetta-wrapped chicken, sea bass with miso broth, parmesan crusted veal and many other delectable offerings, and include a glass of prosecco before the show for £15.
Afternoon Tea, Brasserie Max
If you're only looking for a light bite before your film, have a look at the Brasserie Max afternoon tea menu, with both sweet and savoury options available, or, if you're dropping by for one of the daytime screenings, the Covent Garden's two-course brunch menu is one not to miss out on – try the poached egg, crispy bacon and avocado on a bagel, or the spinach and goat's cheese croissant. At any time of day, the Covent Garden Hotel have you covered for great food and unmissable films.