With regard to the seating types, am I correct in assuming that:
— the front circle and all the stalls are ‘Luxe Recliner’ seats.
— the rear circle is all ‘Luxe Classic’ seats.
December 2018 – refurbished and rebranded as Odeon Luxe.
The website states that it now has 9 screens. therefore presumably some reconfiguration has taken place during the refurbishment and one screen has been eliminated.
The photo uploaded below by CF100 of one of the old auditoria shows just a ‘Flat’ screen.
Now that it is being reconfigured and refurbished to Odeon Luxe standard, I hope all 4 new auditoria will be given wall-to-wall Scope screens. Surely this has to be essential for London’s most prestigious cinema.
November 2018 – Refurbished and rebranded as Odeon Luxe with a corresponding reduction in seating capacity; the largest (Screen 1) reduced from 362 to 141.
I have been told by one of the managers there that all 8 screens are ‘Flat’ necessitating that Scope films are shown ‘letterboxed’ with black bars top and bottom. The photos on here back that up.
This seems to be a common trend for recently built Cineworlds. They seem to have lost interest in showing Scope films properly. With 80%+ of movies nowadays filmed in Scope this does seem rather a strange decision. Cineworld top management don’t seem fussed; perhaps they are not moviegoers themselves. Their cinema experience is like watching a big TV set.
I happened to be passing by recently and popped in to have a look.
The Duty Manager told me that all screens were 1.85 Flat necessitating that Scope movie will be shown letterboxed.
I was slightly surprised as later build Vue cinemas are generally with all Scope screens and the 1990s early Vue (ex Warner) did normally have Scope screens in their larger auditoria. Here all the screens are Flat which also has the consequential result that Scope films are slightly trimmed from 2.39 to 2.32 as some of the side pixels are not shown as the projector will remain set to ‘Flat’.
With all the talk in the comments below about a new screen, can I take it that it will still be a 2.39 Scope screen rather than a so called ‘Large Screen Format’ one at 1.90.
I have read elsewhere that one of the Xtreme screens is just 1.85 necessitating that Scope films have to be letterboxed.
With the majority of films now shot in Scope, I find it somewhat amazing that one of the major screens in a recently built cinema cannot show them properly. The screen, in essence, just becomes a large TV set.
Can anyone else comment on whether the other screens in the complex are Scope or Flat ?
From the auditorium information and the virtual tour on the cinema website, it would appear that both Impact screens (Screens 1 and 8), Screen 10 and the D-Box screen all have 1.85 Flat screens necessitating that Scope have to be shown letterboxed.
If the larger screens are just 1.85 I can only presume that all the rest are too. Whether this is a hangover from when the cinema was built for UCI or a consequence of the upgrade by Empire cinemas, I do not know.
In my opinion, with the majority of films now shot in Scope this does not make this a good place to watch movies in. It will be just like watching a big TV set.
I looked at their virtual tour presentation. It confirmed that of the two Impact auditoria Screen 1 has a Scope screen whilst Screen 2 has a Flat screen.
It also showed one of the smaller screens (Screen 8) which has Scope screen with no masking.
The two small D-Box screens (14 seats in each) were also shown. These both had Flat screens. It also showed that the Exit door in both was right next to the screen which hardly seems like a good design, perhaps unavoidable as this was a conversion of an old building. Then with just 14 seats each I don’t much it matters much where the door is.
From what I read on the cinema website and from the comments below, I gather:
Screen 1 Impact Luxe is a 2.39 Scope screen at 19.5 by 8.2
Screen 2 Impact Blue is a 1.85 Flat screen at 12.4 by 6.7
With the majority of films now filmed in Scope, it seems an extraordinary decision to build one of the major screens as 1.85 Flat requiring Scope films to be letterboxed. This just makes it a glorified TV set.
Any idea whether the other screens are Scope or Flat ?
The largest auditorium (Screen 8) has been refurbished and rebranded as a Luxe screen with the seating accordingly reduced from 353 to 135.
It is unclear if the other screens are also going to similarly refurbished. It is possible that Odeon consider that for some cinemas it is impractical to rebrand all the screens as Luxe. This may be such a case. All the other screens seem to be currently operational.
The two smallest auditoria (Screens 1 and 8) have been refurbished and rebranded as Luxe screens, each with 41 recliner seats.
It is unclear if the other screens are also going to similarly refurbished.
It is possible that Odeon consider that for some cinemas it is impractical to rebrand all the screens as Luxe. This may be such a case. All 8 screens are currently operational.
The Guardian reports that planning permission has now been granted for refurbishment of the cinema plus the addition of an additional screen in the basement.
The link can be found via the Cinema Theatre Association Facebook page.
The auditorium had a fairly narrow proscenium which was fine for standard widescreen films (1.66 or 1.75) but not for Scope movies; these had to be shown with top down masking.
What is perhaps surprising is that the building still stands today. It is not of any architectural importance and indeed looks rather bleak (as seen in the photos). This one stands while many more architectural significant cinemas have been demolished.
With regard to the seating types, am I correct in assuming that: — the front circle and all the stalls are ‘Luxe Recliner’ seats. — the rear circle is all ‘Luxe Classic’ seats.
Addendum: The Hull Daily Mail reports that the cinema has 766 seats (including wheelchair spaces).
The Odeon web-site still has Screen 10 listed (at 150 seats) which I think is no longer there. Hence some muddle.
December 2018 – refurbished and rebranded as Odeon Luxe.
The website states that it now has 9 screens. therefore presumably some reconfiguration has taken place during the refurbishment and one screen has been eliminated.
Screen 5 is now branded as an ISENSE screen
The photo uploaded below by CF100 of one of the old auditoria shows just a ‘Flat’ screen.
Now that it is being reconfigured and refurbished to Odeon Luxe standard, I hope all 4 new auditoria will be given wall-to-wall Scope screens. Surely this has to be essential for London’s most prestigious cinema.
November 2018 – Refurbished and rebranded as Odeon Luxe with a corresponding reduction in seating capacity; the largest (Screen 1) reduced from 362 to 141.
I have been told by one of the managers there that all 8 screens are ‘Flat’ necessitating that Scope films are shown ‘letterboxed’ with black bars top and bottom. The photos on here back that up.
This seems to be a common trend for recently built Cineworlds. They seem to have lost interest in showing Scope films properly. With 80%+ of movies nowadays filmed in Scope this does seem rather a strange decision. Cineworld top management don’t seem fussed; perhaps they are not moviegoers themselves. Their cinema experience is like watching a big TV set.
November 2018 – Now refurbished and rebranded as Odeon Luxe.
With the recliner seats the capacity has been greatly reduced with the two largest auditoria reducing from 255 to 101 seats.
I happened to be passing by recently and popped in to have a look.
The Duty Manager told me that all screens were 1.85 Flat necessitating that Scope movie will be shown letterboxed.
I was slightly surprised as later build Vue cinemas are generally with all Scope screens and the 1990s early Vue (ex Warner) did normally have Scope screens in their larger auditoria. Here all the screens are Flat which also has the consequential result that Scope films are slightly trimmed from 2.39 to 2.32 as some of the side pixels are not shown as the projector will remain set to ‘Flat’.
Now refurbished and rebranded as ‘Odeon Luxe’ (October 2018)
Any reason for the closure ? Poor business ? Too much competition from Vue at Westfield ? Too large a rent increase to renew the lease ? ……. or what ?
I am rather surprised by this announcement
Refurbishment complete and extra screens open – September 2018.
Now a 5 screen cinema.
With all the talk in the comments below about a new screen, can I take it that it will still be a 2.39 Scope screen rather than a so called ‘Large Screen Format’ one at 1.90.
I hope so.
I have read elsewhere that one of the Xtreme screens is just 1.85 necessitating that Scope films have to be letterboxed. With the majority of films now shot in Scope, I find it somewhat amazing that one of the major screens in a recently built cinema cannot show them properly. The screen, in essence, just becomes a large TV set.
Can anyone else comment on whether the other screens in the complex are Scope or Flat ?
From the auditorium information and the virtual tour on the cinema website, it would appear that both Impact screens (Screens 1 and 8), Screen 10 and the D-Box screen all have 1.85 Flat screens necessitating that Scope have to be shown letterboxed.
If the larger screens are just 1.85 I can only presume that all the rest are too. Whether this is a hangover from when the cinema was built for UCI or a consequence of the upgrade by Empire cinemas, I do not know.
In my opinion, with the majority of films now shot in Scope this does not make this a good place to watch movies in. It will be just like watching a big TV set.
I looked at their virtual tour presentation. It confirmed that of the two Impact auditoria Screen 1 has a Scope screen whilst Screen 2 has a Flat screen.
It also showed one of the smaller screens (Screen 8) which has Scope screen with no masking.
The two small D-Box screens (14 seats in each) were also shown. These both had Flat screens. It also showed that the Exit door in both was right next to the screen which hardly seems like a good design, perhaps unavoidable as this was a conversion of an old building. Then with just 14 seats each I don’t much it matters much where the door is.
From what I read on the cinema website and from the comments below, I gather: Screen 1 Impact Luxe is a 2.39 Scope screen at 19.5 by 8.2 Screen 2 Impact Blue is a 1.85 Flat screen at 12.4 by 6.7
With the majority of films now filmed in Scope, it seems an extraordinary decision to build one of the major screens as 1.85 Flat requiring Scope films to be letterboxed. This just makes it a glorified TV set.
Any idea whether the other screens are Scope or Flat ?
Currently closed undergoing refurbisbment. Not sure as to the extent of the renovation but it has been closed for quite a number of weeks.
It re-opens on 26 September 2018.
Just uploaded a photo of the interior taken from an article on Britain’s best cinemas. An excellent interior with an impressive Scope screen.
The IMAX auditorium (Screen 5) has now been refurbished with 165 recliner seats and rebranded as Odeon Luxe.
It is not clear if the other auditoria are to be refurbished too
The largest auditorium (Screen 8) has been refurbished and rebranded as a Luxe screen with the seating accordingly reduced from 353 to 135.
It is unclear if the other screens are also going to similarly refurbished. It is possible that Odeon consider that for some cinemas it is impractical to rebrand all the screens as Luxe. This may be such a case. All the other screens seem to be currently operational.
The two smallest auditoria (Screens 1 and 8) have been refurbished and rebranded as Luxe screens, each with 41 recliner seats.
It is unclear if the other screens are also going to similarly refurbished. It is possible that Odeon consider that for some cinemas it is impractical to rebrand all the screens as Luxe. This may be such a case. All 8 screens are currently operational.
The cinema had a wide proscenium arch which allowed a CinemaScope screen to be easily installed.
I do not know its dimensions but watching a Scope film from the front circle was an impressive experience.
The Guardian reports that planning permission has now been granted for refurbishment of the cinema plus the addition of an additional screen in the basement.
The link can be found via the Cinema Theatre Association Facebook page.
The auditorium had a fairly narrow proscenium which was fine for standard widescreen films (1.66 or 1.75) but not for Scope movies; these had to be shown with top down masking.
What is perhaps surprising is that the building still stands today. It is not of any architectural importance and indeed looks rather bleak (as seen in the photos). This one stands while many more architectural significant cinemas have been demolished.
Now refurbished and rebranded as Odeon Luxe.