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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
Reports on line that the local council has, in May 2025, approved plans to convert the empty cinmea into an Aldi supermarket
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Listed on the Vue website as opening on 27 June 2025
Re-opened by Odeon as a Luxe on 27 May 2025
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.
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.
Re-opened on 10 June 2025 with 4 screens. The remaining 7 to follow.
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.
Any update as to what is happening to the cinema ?
It is now 18 months since it closed.
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.
Announced for closure on 10 December 2024 as a consequence of their financial troubles.
No closure date given.
Announced for closure on 10 December 2024 as a consequence of their financial troubles.
No closure date given.
Announced for closure on 10 December 2024 as a consequence of their financial troubles.
No closure date given.
Announced for closure on 10 December 2024 as a consequence of their financial troubles.
No closure date given.
Announced for closure on 10 December 2024 as a consequence of their financial troubles.
No closure date given.
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”.
To supplement my previous comment, indeed all 10 screens are Scope with no side masking.
Closure announced by Cineworld on 26 July 2024.
Exact date yet to be given.
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.
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.