Cinema offers subtitle glasses to deaf film fans

Kavanagh Cinema owner Robert Johnson demonstrates the Watchword subtitle glasses

A Kent cinema has become the first in the South East to offer subtitle glasses to deaf and hard of hearing customers.

The Kavanagh in Herne Bay has two pairs of Watchword glasses, which contain mini projectors in each arm that beam a film's subtitles into the lenses.

The cinema has been trialling the technology since before Christmas and is confident filmgoers with hearing impairments can enjoy all current releases.

"Most modern films now incorporate subtitles this way," said owner Robert Johnson.

He added: "We used to show films with whole screen subtitles once a month but it wasn't very popular and we were losing money.

"Now people can see a film with friends whenever they like."

The subtitle glasses project dialogue from a film into the lenses and are available at all performances

The glasses cost more than £1,000 each and can have the text broadcast to the user at either of the Kavanagh's screens, thanks to a Watchword controller box that reads the film soundtrack in the projector room.

"The glasses are unobtrusive but so far we haven't had anyone accidentally forget they are wearing them and walk out after a performance", said Mr Johnson.

"It's made the cinema more accessible to those who previously could not enjoy a night at the movies."

One regular subtitle glasses user is Janet Blake from Herne Bay, who said she finds them much better than a previous system that involved headphones.

"I'm used to watching subtitles for television programmes so I can catch everything people are saying," she said.

"They make a big difference and the last film I used them for was Conclave - it's well worth seeing!"

The majority of modern film releases have subtitles incorporated within them that can be accessed by the Watchword glasses

Mr Johnson said he hopes to purchase more of the subtitle glasses in the future depending on demand and hopes other cinemas follow suit.

"If the major chains start buying these units then it will hopefully bring the purchase price down for all cinemas," he said.

The Watchword subtitle glasses are available to be booked in advance for most film releases at The Kavanagh Cinema in Herne Bay.