“Boasting one of the most iconic characters ever in Plissken, and an effective sci-fi set-up, this is entertainment of the highest order”
DOORS 18:00 | FILM STARTS 18:15
We’re starting our 10th anniversary screenings at Redcliffe Caves with a very special collaboration with our friends at Branch Cider for this John Carpenter classic - after all, what better crossover than a cider tasting paired with one of the finest cult films about the Big Apple…?
Join at Redcliffe Caves and step foot inside one of Bristol’s most unusual and exclusive locations for this winning combination of 80s cult epicness and a cider tasting flight! You’ll get a half-pint of session cider on arrival, then you’ll be served three more third-pint servings from Branch’s range - all grown and made mere minutes away in their beautiful Bristol orchard - during the film. Carpenter took a brief break from horror to return to his roots when he made the seminal sci-fi action thriller Escape From New York, starring Kurt Russell in one of his finest collaborations with Carpenter as the legendary Snake Plissken.
It’s cult cinema, local cider and an iconic Bristol location all rolled into one - basically, everything you need for an evening of literally underground cinema. Grab your tickets and join us as we raise a glass to 10 years of screenings at Redcliffe Caves!
Please note: Redcliffe Caves is a unique event space - we strongly recommend all guests read the ‘Venue & Event Information’ tab at this bottom of this page prior to booking.
About The Film
1981 | 15 | 99 mins
In 1997, the entire island of Manhattan has been turned into a lawless maximum security prison. When the President’s plane is hijacked and crashes on the island, soldier-turned-convict Snake Plissken is given 24 hours to conduct a rescue mission in exchange for his own freedom.
Contains strong violence, strong language, brief sexual threat
About The Cider
Branch are Bristol cider makers on a mission to shake up the cider industry. Bristol’s own cider orchard, abandoned by the big cider makers, is now at the centre of a sustainable craft cider revolution. Taking inspiration from craft beer & wine, Branch are making modern craft ciders packed with character and flavour right here at their Bristol cidery. They don’t use cheap foreign apple concentrate, they use West Country apples grown in traditional, unsprayed cider orchards - great for flavour and great for nature.
In 2006 a bunch of cider-loving Bristolians begged, borrowed and stole to fulfil their dream of launching a cider bar on a boat in Bristol. The Apple brought the taste of real West Country cider to Bristol’s thirsty cider drinkers and quickly became a legendary local drinking spot. 5 years later founder Ed Gibson went on holiday to America, and unable to find a decent pint of cider in Austin, TX, somehow ended up starting a cider company there. Taking the irresistible flavour of West Country cider Stateside, Austin Eastciders became one of the biggest craft cider makers in America.
Returning to the West Country a decade later, Ed was shocked at the state of the cider. Despite having the finest apples in the world to play with, the cider being served up had become bland and boring. The big producers had watered down their cider pretty much to nothing and turned to using cheap foreign apple concentrate, abandoning local orchards. One day out exploring, Ed & his wife Samantha stumbled upon Far Orchard, Bristol’s own forgotten cider orchard. Appalled at the sight of hundreds of thousands of beautiful bittersweet apples just rotting on the orchard floor, they knew they had to do something. And so Branch was born.
In 2024 they completed construction of the Branch cidery at Far Orchard, establishing sustainable craft cider production right here in The Cider Capital of The World. Branch make trailblazing modern craft ciders full of character and flavour using bittersweet West Country apples. As they grow, with initiatives such as their 100 ORCHARDS project, Branch aim to be leaders in sustainability in cider.
About The Location
Redcliffe Caves are one of the most fascinating locations in Bristol. Originally created to mine sandstone for glass in the 17th Century, these caves (technically a quarry!) have a rich and varied history, having been used by hermits, prisoners of war, and even as an air raid shelter. Now, they are accessed through a gate on the Harbourside, and are usually closed to the public - Bristol Film Festival hosts its annual Horror In The Caves cinema season inside the Caves every October, and are delighted to be launching this inaugural weekend of tours to allow more people to visit this incredible space.
View The Official Trailer
See This Venue
TICKETS
NB: a mandatory £1.50 booking fee is added to your order at checkout. This is per order, not per ticket
ADD-ONS
Pre-Screening Caves Tours
We are delighted to be offering a limited number of spaces on pre-screening tours of Redcliffe Caves; collect a hard hat, then explore far deeper than our ’Screening Cave’ and learn more about the history of this fascinating Bristol landmark from our guides. Tours start 30 minutes before advertised doors.
PLEASE NOTE: due to the nature of the space, all guests on a pre-screening tour must be able to exit the Caves unaided in the event of an emergency. Further details will be emailed to you shortly after booking.
Getting Here
Redcliffe Caves is situated in the centre of Bristol on Phoenix Wharf (postcode BS1 6SR). There will be a gazebo structure and/or fencing marking the entrance to the Caves, and it is situated on the same wharf as the Benjamin Perry Boathouse (opposite Thekla). The what3words reference is fancy.oval.scope
The easiest ways to reach the Wharf on foot are:
- Via the pedestrian ramp that starts in the NCP car park on Redcliffe Parade East
- Following the footpath round from the Ostrich pub
- Heading south onto the Wharf from the entrance by the east side of Redcliffe BridgeThe nearest bus stops to the Caves are on Redcliff Hill and Redcliffe Way; these are served by multiple bus routes. The nearest railway station is Temple Meads, which is a 15 minute walk from the Caves.
There is no parking onsite. The closest car park is the NCP car park on Redcliffe Parade East. Please do not park on the Wharf as it is regularly patrolled and vehicles without a permit are frequently towed from the site!
Wherever possible, we encourage walking or the use of public transport when travelling to our events.
Accessibility
The venue is technically wheelchair accessible, although there are occasional spots with uneven flooring, puddles and muddy patches. Please contact us if you would like to discuss further.
The venue may not be suitable for people who suffer from claustrophobia.
There will be an accessible Portaloo onsite.
There is a small ramp to access the Caves. Access to the screening room is along a flat path with no steps, although there are some uneven patches of ground. Lighting is also low in the Caves. Pre-screening tours are not suitable for individuals with limited mobility.
If you require assistance to reach your seat, please ask a member of staff upon arrival.
If you require additional space or to be seated in a particular location (e.g. close to an exit), please notify the team ahead of time.
If you are likely to require additional assistance for exiting the venue in the event of an emergency, please notify the team ahead of time.
If you require subtitles, please contact us in advance of making your booking. Many of our screenings can accommodate subtitles; however, this varies depending on the film and the amount of notice given.
We want to make your visit as enjoyable as possible, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information about this venue’s accessibility.
Venue & Event Information
We cannot guarantee access before the stated doors time on your ticket, so advise you arrive as close to this time as possible.
Seating is provided at this event; however, we encourage guests to bring blankets and cushions if they wish to do so.
Due to licensing restrictions, bringing alcoholic drinks other than those purchased onsite into the Caves is prohibited. Guests are allowed to bring their own soft drinks, and these will also be available from the onsite bar.
Please do not consume food in the Caves.
It is highly recommended that all guests wear warm, sensible clothing, as the Caves are a relatively cool environment.
Any individuals behaving in an irresponsible, offensive, or disruptive manner during a screening will be removed from the venue. Please be respectful of others and of this historic space.
The Caves can be an intense environment, and may not be suitable for younger children regardless of a film’s individual rating. All children attending screenings must be accompanied by an adult.
FAQs
I have booked onto a pre-screening tour - what time should I arrive? If you are booked onto a pre-screening tour, please arrive 35 minutes before the stated doors time on your ticket. You will receive an email before your event with more information about what to expect from your tour.
Is seating provided at this event? Yes, seating is provided.
Can I bring my child to a screening in the Caves? Children are permitted at age-appropriate Caves screenings, but must be accompanied by a responsible adult throughout the event. As with all of our screenings, children will not be permitted into an event if they do not meet the film’s BBFC age rating (see ‘About the Film’ to check this). We also advise parents to exercise their own discretion, as the Caves can be an unusual and intense environment that may not be suitable for younger children, regardless of the film’s rating.
What should I wear to the screening? We recommend warm, weather-appropriate clothing for a screening at the Caves, as the Caves are naturally fairly cool and temperatures can vary throughout the day. We also encourage you to bring additional blankets and cushions if you wish!
I have a BuyAGift/Red Letter Days/other voucher. How do I redeem this for this event? Head to this page for more information about redeeming Gift Vouchers.
Is my ticket refundable? If you have purchased refund protection, you can apply for a refund via Xclaim. Red Carpet Club members receive refunds up to 5 working days before an event.