The Building

Watershed is situated in two converted Victorian warehouses, it occupies the entire first floor of the two sheds and has a ground floor entrance where Box Office, a small retail unit and the customer lift is situated. Below is a plan of the building with descriptions of the spaces and facilities. Watershed is a smoke free building. For further information please call on +44 (0) 117 927 6444.

1. Cinema 1
2. Cinema 2
3. Cinema 3
4. Cinema Toilets
5. Customer Lift
6. Accessible Toilet & Baby Changing Unit
7. Café/Bar Link
8. Main Area of Café/Bar
9. Waterside 1
10. Waterside
11. Waterside 2
12. Café/Bar Toilets
13. Waterside 3
14. Blue Badge Holders Parking Spaces
15. Entrance to Watershed

Exterior shot of Watershed

Cinema 1

Cinema 1 is used for both public screenings and private conference events. Since opening in 1982 the old seats in Cinema 1 have had more than 1 million customers sitting on them. It now has 198 lovely new seats (its capacity was 200 before the refurbishment in 2004 – the new seats are bigger and there’s more legroom). There are 3 wheelchair spaces, (one at rear, two at front). Facilities: New screen for improved clarity of image / Air conditioning / New Dolby surround sound system / Induction Loop / Digital Projection.

Cinema 2

Cinema 2 is used for both public screenings and private conference events. Since opening in 1982 the old seats have had more than 300,000 customers sitting on them. It now has 43 lovely new seats (its capacity was 54 before its refurbishment) and a wider screen so although still the smallest of the three cinemas it has just as much to offer. There are 5 wheelchair spaces (at the front). Facilities: New screen for improved clarity of image / Air conditioning / New Dolby surround sound system / Induction Loop / Digital Projection.

 

Cinema 3

Cinema 3 was built in the space where Watershed’s offices and the Darkrooms used to be. Cinema 3 is used for both public screenings and private conference events, the plaques of all our very generous seat sponsors are in place on the seats. This cinema has a capacity of 101 seats plus there are 3 wheelchair spaces (one at the rear, two at the front).Facilities: New screen for improved clarity of image / Air conditioning / New Dolby surround sound system / Induction Loop / Notepad rests / Digital Projection.

 

Cinema Toilets

Situated in the top foyer just next to the lift the Cinema toilets were built as part of the refurbishment in 2004.

 

Customer Lift

The customer lift has enabled Watershed to become much more accessible for all our customers and was one of the major componenets of our refurbishment programme of 2004/05.

 

Accessible Toilet & Baby Changing Unit

The unisex accessible toilet and baby changing facility is located off the first floor foyer, towards Cinema 1. The door is operated with a RADAR key available from the Café/Bar and Box Office. Sadly, this is the only way we have found to protect the facilities from the repeated vandalism they have received in the past. There is an emergency alarm in the accessible toilet should you require assistance from a member of staff.

 

Café/Bar Link

The Café/Bar Link was created by extending the old glass bridge that joined the two sheds together. It has created the capacity for 70 more ‘covers’ (the term used in the catering world to describe a table setting for one person). This space has no audio speakers so that customers can enjoy a quieter space. There are two Slacker Tables in the Link that have been redesigned by artist Simon Poulter. The glass-topped tables house four computers with internet access on which visitors can view a selection of creative projects from Watershed's online gallery. There is also free web access in the Café/Bar as we provide fast wireless access to the internet, so you can check your email or surf the web from your own wireless-enabled laptop whilst drinking your coffee. The Link opened in January 2005.

 

The Café/Bar Link

Main Area of Café/Bar

The Café/Bar is a light, airy loft space offering great views across the harbour. The atmosphere's always welcoming - with food available from 1200hrs until 2100hrs (1900hrs on Sundays). Over the past 23 years, the Café/Bar has built up an enviable reputation as the dockside's social hub and serves independent beers, including Budweiser Budvar and Erdinger Weissbrau, lots of continental bottled beers, and local real ales – Real Ales from Bath Ales are a regular, including the recent addition of an Organic Lager. There are also great wines (including organic) from around the world, and fruit juices, smoothies, coffees, teas and hot chocolate, mostly organic and Fair Trade. Watershed's quality food comes at reasonable prices, from snacks to mains, with a wide and interesting vegetarian selection. The music in the Café/Bar is selected from an ever-growing database of tens of thousands of MP3s – you can see the current track that is playing on the display behind the right hand side of the bar, you can also view the track currently playing in the Café/Bar on this website. There are two Slacker Tables in the Link area of the Café/Bar that have been redesigned by artist Simon Poulter. The glass-topped tables house four computers with free internet access on which visitors can view a selection of creative projects from Watershed's online gallery.There is also free web access in the Café/Bar as we provide fast wireless access to the internet, so you can check your email or surf the web from your own wireless-enabled laptop whilst drinking your coffee. In an average year over 100,000 pints of beer are served along with 20,000 main meals (over half of which are vegetarian). Open daily. Mon 1030hrs - 2300hrs, Tue - Thu 0930hrs - 2300hrs, Fri 0930hrs - midnight, Sat 1000hrs - midnight, Sun 1000hrs - 2230hrs.

 

The Café/Bar

Waterside 1

Waterside 1 is flexible space, used as a studio workshop, training suite and for small events with a capacity of 40, which opened in April 2003. In the last year we served over 2,000 cups of tea in Waterside 1. Facilities: Adjoining doors with adjacent Waterside 2 / Large, permanent screen / Fixed data projector for hire / PA System / Induction loop / Black-out available / In-house catering supplied by our team of highly acclaimed chefs / Technical support / Windows looking out onto the Café/Bar.

 

Waterside

Waterside is part of the Café/Bar – all the tables look out onto the harbour, all the entrances to the three Waterside spaces are off Waterside.

 

Waterside 2

Waterside 2 is a flexible space ideal for small events with a capacity of 50 which opened in April 2003. In an average year there are over 200 different meetings in Waterside 2 involving the setting up and moving of over 4,000 chairs. Facilities: Adjoining doors with adjacent Waterside 3 & 1 / Large screen / Fixed data projector for hire / PA System / Induction loop / Black-out available / In-house catering supplied by our team of highly acclaimed chefs / Technical support.

 

Café/Bar Toilets

The Café/Bar toilets are situated on the far side of the Café/Bar. You go past the food service area and turn right at the entrance to the Waterside spaces. They are clearly signed.

 

Waterside 3

Retaining the character of the converted harbourside warehouse, Waterside 3 is the perfect room for conferences, events and receptions, offering natural daylight within a light and airy environment. It has a capacity of 160 and opened in April 2003. In an average year we have estimated that the Events team serve over 24,000 vol-au-vents. Facilities: Beautiful views of Bristol’s harbour / Adjoining doors with adjacent Waterside 2 / Large, permanent screen / Fixed data projector for hire / PA System / Induction loop / Black-out available / In-house catering supplied by our team of highly acclaimed chefs / Technical support.

 

Blue Badge Holders Parking Spaces

There are spaces that can be used as drop off points just behind the building as well as two blue badge holder spaces where badge holders can park free of charge and without time limit.

 

Main Entrance to Watershed

There are two sets of doors leading to the entrance foyer, reception area and Box Office. There is a single, ramped entrance door that is electronically assisted, this door is situated under the Link between the two sheds.The other entrance (pictured) is a set of unassisted double doors, at which there is a 20mm ‘lip’. This entrance is situated on the front of the building facing the water.

 

Entrance to Watershed