Hyde Park Picture House expands Bring Your Own Baby cinema screenings to include 15-rated films
Hyde Park Picture House has secured a licence change allowing new parents and carers to watch 15-rated films at its popular Bring Your Own Baby screenings, kicking off with a special Baby Week event this November
Popular Leeds cinema Hyde Park Picture House is expanding its Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) programme from November to include films rated 15 and above.
Following an update to its licence, supported by Leeds City Council, the historic community venue will now show a broader selection of new releases and independent titles previously excluded from the scheme due to age rating restrictions.
The screenings are specifically tailored for parents and carers attending with babies under 12 months old.
.png?trim=0,0,0,0&width=640&quality=65)
The expanded offer responds directly to feedback from local parents asking for a wider variety of films aimed at adult audiences, giving carers a welcoming space to enjoy cinema without needing childcare.
To celebrate the launch of the expanded licence, Hyde Park Picture House will host a special BYOB screening of Wicker on November 18 at 11am.
The event forms part of national Baby Week, a city-wide campaign championing early childhood development and family support.
Before and after the film, midwives from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will host a free 'Meet the Midwives' drop-in session in the cinema foyer, offering practical advice, guidance, and support for new and expectant families. Child Friendly Leeds will also provide complimentary snacks and refreshments so attendees can stay, chat, and meet other parents.
Sylvia Barber, Young Audiences Officer at Hyde Park Picture House, said: “As a community cinema in the heart of Hyde Park, we believe everyone should have access to arts and culture, regardless of their circumstances. We want to create a space for families to enjoy film together, maintain their independence and build friendships during what can be a challenging and isolating time.
“Our most popular BYOB screenings this year have included Hamnet, Sense and Sensibility and The Devil Wears Prada 2, demonstrating a real appetite for films aimed at adult audiences. We're delighted that the change to our licence will allow us to offer a wider choice of films.”
Sadiya Salim, Director of Baby Week and Child Friendly Leeds Lead, added: “Leeds is a Child Friendly City, and we're always looking for opportunities to work with organisations, spaces and places to remove barriers to access.
“By working together, we can create a city-wide offer that ensures families have welcoming, inclusive and affordable opportunities to connect, learn and enjoy experiences with their children.”
The move to expand the licence follows overwhelmingly positive feedback from a survey of 51 past and present BYOB audience members, 50 of whom rated the screenings either four or five out of five.
A total of 48 respondents emphasised that the sessions provided "an opportunity to do something for me," with 33 identifying that personal time as their primary motivation for attending.
Watching films aimed at adult audiences proved a major draw, with 44 attendees highlighting it as a key appeal and an equal number actively supporting the inclusion of 15-rated titles, noting that infants under 12 months are too young to process the on-screen content.
Local parents have praised the initiative’s positive impact on wellbeing, with one attendee describing the screenings as an "absolute lifeline during maternity leave" and another highlighting the welcoming environment during the often isolating early days of parenthood.
To book tickets for the screening or to browse the full Bring Your Own Baby line-up, head directly to the Hyde Park Picture House website to secure your seat.