Picturehouse Central

Great Windmill Street and Shaftesbury Avenue,
London, W1D 7DH

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CF100
CF100 on September 12, 2019 at 8:38 am

According to a press release titled “Christie RealLaser Helps Cineworld Eastbourne Become Europe’s First All-RGB Laser Cineplex,” Picturehouse Central has received an upgrade to Christie RGB laser projection. The specific auditorium is not mentioned, so it might be imagined that Screen 1 has received the upgrade.

CF100
CF100 on September 29, 2017 at 8:27 pm

PhilipWW: Definitely! Good place to go even if you’re not seeing a film.

PhilipWW
PhilipWW on September 26, 2017 at 1:51 pm

I have just been into Screens 1 and 2, both excellent to watch movies in. Both had very large and impressive Scope screens, with no side masking if I recollect.

I was told that Screens 4 through 7 also have full Scope screens. Screen 3, for architectural reasons, just has a 1.85 screen which results in Scope films being shown letterboxed with no top/bottom masking.

I thought the cafe downstairs was excellent too. In fact, the whole cinema just has a nice feel to it which makes you want to go back there again.

CF100
CF100 on September 5, 2017 at 1:24 pm

A short blurb on the refurbishment to create the Picturehouse, as well as a number of photos, are on the website of Phelan Construction:

http://www.phelans.co.uk/portfolio/projects/picturehouse-central-piccadilly

The project duration was 20 weeks, including strip-out, minor structure alterations (to walls and floors, and new steel work) and fit-out.

zanygang
zanygang on August 19, 2017 at 4:39 pm

It’s the most expensive Picturehouse cinema, even on weekday daytimes.

It has got one of the best cinema cafes. Last time I had mushroom soup and chili beef

CF100
CF100 on January 27, 2016 at 7:12 pm

I spent a pleasant hour or so in the main bar, a comfortable and airy place to seek refuge from the chaos outside—at least earlier in the day!

The interior is a mish-mash; worst of all are the exposed ceilings/services, and bare brick walls—no objection to this, if it’s done right—not when it (particularly in the bar area) reveals the scars left by years of alterations. (The Trocadero is, after all, a labyrinth block of various buildings knocked together.)

Then there’s the “art” (to be charitable) by the entrance staircase…

Nit-picking aside, though, I concur with SethLewis—a very, very nice pre/post-film hangout.

Technical information

Some key points:

  • Screen 1/Screen 2 are renamed Screen 2/Screen 1.

  • Screen 1 is fitted with a Dolby Atmos system.

  • 2 largest screens are equipped with 4K projection.

  • 4 screens support RealD 3D.

  • 35mm/70mm capability in Screen 1 (formerly Screen 2), 35mm in Screen 7.

  • All auditoria retained but completely re-fitted, including increased floor rake in Screen 1 and increased screen sizes in 1 and 2.

Photos – inc. Screen 1

SethLewis
SethLewis on December 10, 2015 at 6:14 am

Preview of Brooklyn a few weeks ago…can still inject a bit more professionalism into managing events and the wide range of things going on here…but as good a moviegoing experience as there is in London right now

DavidSimpson
DavidSimpson on December 10, 2015 at 3:33 am

According to Picturehouse publicity in November 2015, the auditorium capacities are: Screen 1: 341, Screen 2: 177, Screen 3: 131, Screen 4: 127, Screen 5: 82, Screen 6: 78 and Screen 7: 65. A total of 1,001 seats.

SethLewis
SethLewis on July 12, 2015 at 6:02 pm

A great experience…a lovely ground floor cafe…well laid out mezzanine entrance with multiple ticket and snack points…pick and mix, donuts, and another bar so a great place to meet and chill before and after The cinema layouts appear to be similar to the old Cineworld but with new seats Saw Love & Mercy the Brian Wilson story great projection and sound No adverts Despite the high prices this is a great grown up place to see a movie

Zappomatic
Zappomatic on June 18, 2015 at 8:08 am

Off to the launch event tonight – looks great in the photos!

CF100
CF100 on May 31, 2015 at 9:27 pm

Due to open this Summer.

https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/Picturehouse_Central

Some drawings of the bar area etc. Looks hideous!

SethLewis
SethLewis on April 8, 2015 at 7:47 am

The Odeon Covent Garden was not a bad conversion from the ABC 1&2…The Panton Street needs to go…now! The most uncomfortable theatre in London

Zappomatic
Zappomatic on April 8, 2015 at 7:10 am

The Dalek is now down the road at Cineworld Haymarket.

CF100
CF100 on November 9, 2014 at 9:10 pm

Have not seen a film there in some time and last time I did was not impressed by what I can only describe as an outdated and run-down multiplex. It isn’t closed for good though, it’s being refurbished into a Picturehouse and it will have its own entrance.

Billy
Billy on October 24, 2014 at 11:35 am

Although accessing a screen often involved going up a frustratingly large number of escalators, it’s a still a shame it closed. It had formed a good partnership with the Cineworld Haymarket down the road in that Shaftesbury Avenue would normally show the big, populist blockbusters and Haymarket the smaller art-house films, although sometimes one would be in the other – the last film I saw here was ‘The Congress’ a few weeks before it closed. The disinterest of some of the staff was apparent who probably already knew they were losing their jobs, but I did like the random appearance of a Dalek by one of the escalators, constructed by a staff member for the 2013 50th anniversary episode and left there ever since. Wonder where that is now.

Poor Haymarket now has a challenge in what films it can fit into its three screens. The Fulham Road/Chelsea cinemas have a similar sharing of content between them (situated minutes walk away from each other) but the distribution seems a bit more random there, both big and smaller releases shared between both cinemas.

davepring
davepring on October 20, 2014 at 7:02 am

With both the Curzon and Picturehouse on Shaftesbury Avenue I think Odeons art house properties further down the Avenue and at Panton Street will quickly close.

CF100
CF100 on October 4, 2014 at 4:35 pm

That does sound good, perhaps the hotel conversion will finally put paid to the Trocadero being no-man’s land as it has been for a decade…!

d8rren
d8rren on September 25, 2014 at 8:26 pm

to be called Picturehouse central & to be Picturehouse Flagship

the west end cineworld unlimited card will still be valid for tickets & other unlimited cards will have a £2 uplift so not to bad as the place was a dump

well done to Cineworld for a great deal when they could of said its a Picturehouse now unlimited cards only for Cineworlds lets face it not gonna be cheap to refit that flea pit

SethLewis
SethLewis on September 23, 2014 at 5:29 pm

Affordable hotel rooms being at a premium let’s not begrudge the overhaul of Trocadero…for the 40s 50s 60s 70s the London Pavilion Cinema…for the 90’s and 00’s a multiplex rebranded 5 times…a cool new arthouse and budget hotel for the next generation…onwards and upwards

CF100
CF100 on September 23, 2014 at 3:21 pm

Shame that most of the remainder of the Trocadero is being reconstructed into yet another hotel, there’s more than enough space for all sorts of more interesting uses. I suppose £150/night rooms are more profitable than cinemas (or run-down arcades!) May as well remove entertainment from the heart of the West End and build hotels instead. :–(

SethLewis
SethLewis on September 22, 2014 at 3:15 pm

From Friday’s Evening Standard…this is good news http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/trocadero-to-be-turned-into-sevenscreen-arthouse-cinema-9742912.html?origin=internalSearch But probably a death knell for the Odeon Panton St (no great loss) and possibly the Odeon Covent Garden…the now Warner Picadilly is sadly a waste

CF100
CF100 on September 22, 2014 at 1:30 pm

It closed yesterday for the conversion to a ‘Picturehouse’, for reopening next year. I have uploaded pictures of the lobby one day before closing and the boarding opposite the entrance for the hotel conversion work. Not the most welcoming approach!

Reading through the above linked planning application, the existing old Trocadero friezes are to be kept but with improved lighting.

Zappomatic
Zappomatic on November 19, 2013 at 9:08 am

This gives a good idea of the plans: http://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/online-applications/files/93DA31A65D443CD6C7055EFA366DBBFB/pdf/13_09849_FULL-TROCADERO_DESIGN_ACCESS_AND_HERITAGE_STATEMENT-3180371.pdf