Bury St Edmunds' Food 4 Film enhances the cinema experience

The Abbeygate Cinema and No. 4 Restaurant have a rich history, showing films to audiences since the 1920s. Customers can watch a cult film whilst they eat their themed meal in an experience dubbed by head chef Matthew Cooke (the irony is not lost on him) as 'Food 4 Film.'

Keen to try the concept, my husband and I headed to a screening of Tarantino's Pulp Fiction to see whether the foodie event enhanced the movie-watching experience.

Taste

We were feeling a little peckish as we were seated at our table in the darkened event space, so were grateful for the bags of freshly-made popcorn on each of our place settings. Slightly sweet, slightly salty, and still warm - delicious. 

Each table was served a cocktail to start (Image: Newsquest)

The espresso martinis were served before the film began. I'm not necessarily a big fan of this cocktail, but the bitter coffee taste was cut through by the creamy chocolate and made for a nice aperitif.

The Big Kahuna Burger has a surprise ring of pineapple in it (Image: Newsquest)

For our 'main' course we were each served a Big Kahuna Burger. I wasn't sure not to expect from this, but it definitely wasn't a pineapple ring between the cheese slice and the burger patty, and I'm not sure I would choose to have the fruit in my burger again. However, the meat was succulent and the burger beautifully garnished. The fries were crispy, piping hot and well seasoned. 

I would have paid more for this milkshake (Image: Newsquest)

I loved the 5 dollar shake. It was so smooth - bourbon, Horlicks, ice cream and milk. I could have sipped on this all evening. 

I'll skip over the adrenaline shot, which was vodka and Red Bull - you either like it or you don't.

The cheesecake was creamy and delicious (Image: Newsquest)

The baked vanilla cheesecake was creamy and soft, and the blueberry compote a nice component to add a little tart freshness to the dessert.

I liked the cinnamon pop-tart, but wouldn't have said that the cinnamon flavour was particularly distinctive.

Finally, the bacon! (Image: Newsquest)

Finally, the maple cured bacon. This felt like an additional treat. The salty bacon was drowning in the sticky syrup and it tasted delicious.

Presentation

I will say, everything about the presentation was cleverly thought through. Our tables were laid with a bottle of still water, a glossy card with the menu printed, and a pen and some paper so that diners could write a drinks order for the waiting staff to subtly collect during the film without causing too much of a kerfuffle. 

The adrenaline shots looked like something straight out of a medicine cupboard (Image: Newsquest)

It didn't stop at the table decorations: our Big Kahuna Burgers were served in paper bags printed with the 'Kahuna' branding. Our 5 dollar shakes looked identical to the one sipped by character Mia Wallace - cherries and all - and our adrenalin shots really looked as if they were missing from a hospital medicine cupboard. 

Service

The service had to be slick - almost invisible, even - in order for the event to work seamlessly. 

With every dish perfectly timed to the iconic scene in the film, it really did feel as if we were enjoying a burger with the stars.

Toilets

Black and white subway tiles make the toilets feel clean and classy.

Large sinks line up under the mirrors and the three cubicles mean the queue moves quickly. 

Accessibility

There is disabled access to the cinema and the path to the events space is wide and flat. 

An easy-access toilet is on the ground floor.

Menu

Cost: £50 per person

Honey Bunny and Pumpkin's espresso martini

The Big Kahuna Burger and fries

5 dollar shake

Adrenaline shot

Blueberry cheesecake and homemade cinnamon pop tart

Jack Rabbit Slim's maple-cured bacon and syrup