Comments from PhilipWW

Showing 1 - 25 of 149 comments

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Cineworld Cinema - Yate on Jun 19, 2025 at 9:49 am

Reports on line that the local council has, in May 2025, approved plans to convert the empty cinmea into an Aldi supermarket

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Omniplex Ipswich on Jun 19, 2025 at 6:40 am

I called by whilst I was in Ipswich recently. It was a Saturday morning morning and the cinema was closed. The shutters were down and just the ‘Omniplex’ sign above gave any indication that it was a cinema. There was no publicity outside as to which films were showing.

Although the Buttermarket shopping centre is fairly new (10 years perhaps?), it already looks in decline. Some shops were closed and those that were there are not very upmarket. That area of Ipswich is not the best.

So I can understand why Empire found it hard going. I can only presume that the landlord offered Omniplex a much reduced rent to attract them to take over. I suppose there is parking nearby but it was not obvious.

In all, this hardly appears as a location to entice customers to spend the evening out there when there is the rather excellent Cineworld with easy parking not far away.

Inside the cinema may or may not be great, I have no idea, but from the outside it does not look good.

I wish Omniplex well but have my doubts as to whether the cinema has a long term futuree

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Cineworld Cinema - Ipswich on Jun 18, 2025 at 12:11 pm

Revisited recently after some years as my previous visits were when it was still Virgin.

I was in Screen 1 this time and found it very impressive. Good size Scope screen with no side masking, comfortable seats and a very dark auditorium when the film was showing. From my previous visits, the other screens are very similar. Since that time one screen has been converted to IMax so I can’t comment on that.

A good cinema.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Odeon Port Solent on Jun 18, 2025 at 12:04 pm

Following on from my previous post from 2018, all screens no longer have side masking. Whether it is still there but not operable or whether it has been removed, I do not know.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Cineworld Cinema - Weymouth on Jun 18, 2025 at 12:00 pm

There are stories online that Vue are taking over, but they are just rumours so they may not be true.

However there is video posted on Youtube showing that extensive work is being carried out at the cinema, so something is happening.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Odeon Luxe + IMAX - Middlesbrough on Jun 18, 2025 at 11:45 am

New seating numbers taken from the Odeon website.

All are a combination of Recliners plus Premier Recliners.

Screen 1 : 71

Screen 2 : 55

Screen 3 : 49

Screen 4 : 115

Screen 5 : 151 (Labelled as XL screen) plus 2 VIP beds

Screen 6 : 73

Screen 7 : 54

Screen 8 : 55

Screen 9 : 68 Luxe Pods

Screen 10 126 plus 2 VIP beds

Screen 11 : 131 Imax

plus 2 wheelchair spaces in each auditorium

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Odeon Luxe - Northampton on Jun 18, 2025 at 11:41 am

New seating numbers taken from the Odeon website.

All are a combination of Recliners plus Premier Recliners.

Screen 1 : 48

Screen 2 : 48

Screen 3 : 60 Luxe pods (whatever they are)

Screen 4 : 97

Screen 5 : 184 (Labelled as XL screen)

Screen 6 : 95 plus 6 VIP beds (whatever they are too)

Screen 7 : 66 plus 6 VIP beds

Screen 8 : 48

Screen 9 : 48

plus 2 wheelchair spaces in each auditorium

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Vue Nottingham on Jun 18, 2025 at 11:25 am

Listed on the Vue website as opening on 27 June 2025

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Odeon Luxe - Northampton on Jun 17, 2025 at 9:14 am

Re-opened by Odeon as a Luxe on 27 May 2025

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Reel Cinemas Fareham on Jun 15, 2025 at 8:48 am

Scope screens in all 5 auditoria. All the screens originally had side masking but that is now no longer in use, or perhaps taken down, I am not sure which.

As can be seen in one of the photos the screens rather strangely have lights all around them. They do go out during the film so not a problem.

As also shown, the cin3ema has a rather inconspicuous entrance at ground level leading to the stairs which take you the main foyer and the screens on the first floor.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Highland Cinema on Jun 15, 2025 at 8:44 am

Very comfortable cinema. Wall-to-wall Scope screens with side masking (yes, that is quite a rarity nowadays). Auditorium is very dark during the show.

I was in Screen 2 but was able to walk in and have a look in the larger Screen 1. I was impressed.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Odeon Luxe + IMAX - Middlesbrough on Jun 15, 2025 at 8:40 am

Re-opened on 10 June 2025 with 4 screens. The remaining 7 to follow.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Vue Sheffield on May 9, 2025 at 7:02 am

I was shown around a number of auditoria when I was there recently. Only the larger two (Nos 6 and 11) have Scope screens, the remaining 9 have ‘flat’ 1.85 screens. This always seems such a pity to me. With most films now in Scope I would have thought it better to install Scope screens in all so the films can be shown properly masked and just accept that ‘flat’ movies will appear smaller. Apparently now the view of the cinema chains.

Notwithstanding, a nice cinema, looked smart and well designed.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Empire Bishop's Stortford on Jan 14, 2025 at 6:37 am

Any update as to what is happening to the cinema ?

It is now 18 months since it closed.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Cineworld Cinema - Poole (Tower Park) on Jan 12, 2025 at 4:13 am

As mentioned below, in its Empire days only 2 out of the 16 screens were fully Scope. I doubt if that changed at all when it was run by Cineworld.

Now that it is to be run by Vue, I hope that they can do something to remedy this situation as watching films being “letterboxed” on what is no more than a giant size TV screen hardly makes for a good viewing experience.

Vue has some very good multiplexes with great Scope screens, so somehow I hope that they can make a big improvement here.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Cineworld Cinema - Poole (Tower Park) on Dec 10, 2024 at 7:28 am

Announced for closure on 10 December 2024 as a consequence of their financial troubles.
No closure date given.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Odeon Luxe - Northampton on Dec 10, 2024 at 7:27 am

Announced for closure on 10 December 2024 as a consequence of their financial troubles.
No closure date given.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Odeon Luxe + IMAX - Middlesbrough on Dec 10, 2024 at 7:26 am

Announced for closure on 10 December 2024 as a consequence of their financial troubles.
No closure date given.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Cineworld Cinema - Leigh on Dec 10, 2024 at 7:25 am

Announced for closure on 10 December 2024 as a consequence of their financial troubles.
No closure date given.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Cineworld Cinema - Castleford on Dec 10, 2024 at 7:25 am

Announced for closure on 10 December 2024 as a consequence of their financial troubles.
No closure date given.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Savoy Catterick Garrison on Aug 2, 2024 at 10:13 am

Various articles around saying that the cinema has been bought by Savoy Cinemas, is being refurbished by them and will re-open in Autumn 2024.

One article reports “Savoy said the cinema will reopen with four screens in their former configuration while three will remain closed for renovations including new luxury seating comprising rocker seats, faux leather electric recliners and double sofas”.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Cineworld Cinema - Yeovil on Aug 1, 2024 at 3:57 am

To supplement my previous comment, indeed all 10 screens are Scope with no side masking.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Cineworld Cinema - Hinckley on Jul 27, 2024 at 2:04 am

Closure announced by Cineworld on 26 July 2024.
Exact date yet to be given.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Vue Portsmouth on Nov 22, 2023 at 12:10 am

The refurbishment is rather good. Besides the recliner seats and new stadia stepping, all the walls have a black matte finish which makes the auditorium very dark with no light reflection. This technique is used in other Vue cinemas, it’s good.

The screens still remain at 7 in Scope and 7 flat. The 7 auditoria with 1.85 screens are fairly square but I believe that Scope screens could be fitted. There is a slight room for wider screens. With Scope screens, that would then reduce the size of the screen for 1.85 films but, given the general size of the auditoria in question, that would not be a bad decision. In my opinion it would actually be an improvement for both types of films.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW commented about Showcase Cinema de Lux Bristol on Nov 21, 2023 at 7:40 am

The reason for the closure given was that Showcase and the site owners had not been able to agree a new lease. Showcase stated that whilst business had imoproved post Covid, it was still not back to the pre Covid levels (possibly, I presume, because this is a city centre site).

If the site owner wished to increase the lease amount, then one can see that this becomes a problem for Showcase. Result – the cinema will close. A great pity as I found it an excellent cinema.