Love Actually (Baby & Me)

The Hub on Verulam is screening Love Actually as part of its Baby & Me programme on Thursday 17 December, starting at 11:00 with an estimated finish of 13:15. It's a morning slot, which is exactly why it's set up for parents with babies aged one and under. The film itself is the ensemble romantic comedy that follows several intertwined relationships in the weeks before Christmas, so it fits the pre-holiday date well.

If you're not familiar with how the Baby & Me sessions work, it's worth knowing the layout. The Hub on Verulam is an all-day dining destination in St Albans that combines a Vesper evening restaurant, boutique cinema rooms and a co-working space. Its cinema offering ranges from toddler and kids' screenings to a monthly Film Club led by in-house curator Finn Barrow and Cinema Supper Club evenings. The Baby & Me programme is built for adults bringing babies aged one and under, with The Box as a grown-up, baby-friendly cinema environment and The Terrace as the room for these screenings. It's designed so you can actually watch the film while your little one is with you, rather than spending the whole time worrying about whether they're being too loud.

Love Actually is a familiar one for most, but seeing it in a room where you don't have to hold your breath every time a baby stirs makes it a different experience. The film weaves together several different stories, all set in London in the run-up to Christmas, and the ensemble cast means there's plenty to keep you occupied across the two-plus hours. It's a romantic comedy that leans into the festive spirit, so it's a fitting choice for a mid-December morning.

The screening is at The Hub on Verulam, 5 Verulam Road, St Albans, AL3 4DA, on Thursday 17 December from 11:00 to about 13:15. Tickets are £8.