Picturehouse is shaking up its membership scheme – can you save on cinema tickets by locking in NOW?

Picturehouse – which has 24 cinemas across England and one in Scotland – currently offers five different membership options, with prices dependent on location, your age and the level of perks.

But the chain is simplifying its scheme, and will only offer three membership tiers going forwards. Here's all you need to know.

You'll get MORE 'free' tickets each year but less flexibility on how you use them

Here are the key changes coming in from 22 September – you'll:

• Get MORE 'free' tickets each year, but less flexibility on how you use them. Under the current scheme, depending on your membership tier, you get five or 10 'free' tickets to use as you please throughout the year.
  
  Going forwards, you'll receive ONE ticket per month. So you'll receive more tickets a year overall at 12, BUT you'll need to be patient to build up enough free tickets to use if you've multiple people you'd like to bring on one visit.
  
  In addition, you'll only be able to use 'free' tickets on a weekday (excluding Bank Holidays) if you're on the lowest membership tier. Currently, 'free' tickets can be used any day of the week.

• No longer be able to get specific over-60s and student memberships. You will, however, receive a £3 discount on each ticket purchased once you've used your 'free' allowance.

• Have the option to pay for your membership on a monthly rolling basis (after the first three months). This means you can cancel penalty-free at any time – though it will cost more than the equivalent annual membership paid up front. Currently, you can only pay annually – either as a rolling annual subscription or a one-off, non-recurring payment (though this option costs a bit more).

How Picturehouse's membership schemes compare in full

Here's a full breakdown of how the schemes compare:

Already a member? You won't be automatically moved to the new scheme

If you're already a Picturehouse member, your current membership will continue for its duration, even if it stretches beyond 22 September. Crucially, Picturehouse WON'T automatically move you to a new membership when your current one ends.

Make sure you do a full cost-benefit analysis to check which scheme is going to best suit your budget and lifestyle.

Any 'free' tickets accrued will be transferred to your new membership if you take one up, where they will be valid until 22 September 2027, or when your new membership expires.

If you decide not to take out a new membership, you'll lose any unused 'free' tickets accrued at the end of your existing one. So make sure to utilise them if you can.

Picturehouse hasn't answered our question on whether you can cancel your current contract mid-term and get a partial refund – something you might benefit from doing if you wanted to sign up under the existing scheme for another year, or to switch to the new scheme sooner.