Omniplex High Wycombe
Crest Road,
Cressex,
High Wycombe,
HP11 1UA
Crest Road,
Cressex,
High Wycombe,
HP11 1UA
1 person
favorited this theater
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Omniplex Cinemas (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: Omniplex Cinemas
Previously operated by: C.I.C., Odeon Cinemas Group, UCI Theatres
Architects: Jim Unick
Firms: UNICK Architects
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: Wycombe Six, Filmworks, UCI, Odeon, Empire Cinema
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
440871.471.4714
Nearby Theaters
Opened as the Wycombe Six on 25th July 1987, this 1,750 seat capacity multiplex was operated by C.I.C. and it was built to replace the ageing Frogmoor Cinema in the centre of the town, as well as the Odeon on Castle Street. It is located in Cressex, which is on the outskirts of the town, near Wycombe Air Park at Booker. This cinema has a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream parlour, as well as a bar and an American style restaurant.
It was transferred to the Filmworks company, followed by UCI and then Odeon Theatres. Empire Theatres took control in October 2005. Empire Cinemas went into administration on 6th July 2023, but they continued to operate several cinemas in the chain, including this one. It was taken over by the Irish based Omniplex Cinema Group on 4th December 2023 and renamed Omniplex.
Seating capacities in the 6-screens are; 1. 209, 2. 285, 3. 355, 4. 355, 5. 284 and 6. 209. In February 2009, two additional screens were added that have digital presentation.
Contributed by
Zak Woodman
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Recent comments (view all 24 comments)
LARGE_screen_format: Responding to the relevant parts of your post on the “Odeon North Greenwich” page dated 2nd July 2018…
The only auditorium photo I can find of this cinema in its original state is one uploaded to Cinema Treasures. Very difficult to tell!
However, there is a photo available of another mid-80s CIC auditorium, namely the old Empire 3, which provides a better view of its seating; these seats do seem to bare some resemblance in form to the American Seating Company seats that were in the old Empire 1, although they have a headrest section.
Perhaps, then, those installed at High Wycombe were a similar model to those in the old Empire 1.
Photo of an auditorium at Empire High Wycombe dated 2015.
Are these the ones that were installed for “the filmworks” overhaul? I assume the stadia was built then also?
I guess at that point the path of least resistance was to “skip” the old and replace.
If that’s how that auditorium looks today then it really needs a makeover—the seats are sagging and the carpet looks like it’s seen better days! (Maybe wet cleaning would be sufficient.)
Alas, the American Seating Company sold its “Architectural Fixed Seating” business to the Irwin Seating Company. Of the American Seating Company’s auditorium seating product lines, the “Stellar” series is in their catalogue, but one might imagine that there might be implications in terms of spare parts availablity for older seats. Now if only I could find “Empire 1”-type (“1960 Comfort Deluxe mode” according to a post on Cinema Treasures by theatreofvarieties) seats on eBay…
I’m not 100% on the dates that ownership changed hands but unless I’m mistaken this cinema went through the following:
CIC > UCI > Odeon > The Filmworks > Empire
Unless I’m mistaken the super comfortable original red velour seats were all changed to ultra-cheap (plastic backed, barely padded armrest plus cup holders) around the mid-90’s. This was due to a number of the original seats being damaged or becoming tired looking and to have them refurbished would have cost too much.
Seem to recall the overhaul (conversion to stadium seating and renumbering the auditoria numbers from 5, 3, 1, 2, 4, 6 to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) happened around the early 00’s.
One difference I have remembered between the original Wycombe 6 seats and Empire (screen 1), LSQ was that the latter reclined slightly (rocker style) when you leaned back. The Wycombe 6 seats did not, they were fixed. They did have headrests though and may well be identical to those you linked to from Empire (screen 2) LSQ?
Shame I didn’t take more photos back in those days. The backlit sign for screen 1 (This auditorium is THX certified) for example. I do still have one of the original ‘This Theatre Features DTS Digital Sound’ plaques somewhere from this cinema.
LARGE_screen_format: Hmm, I seem to recall that CIC was still around even after the name change—having a quick look through Companies House filings: UCI basically was CIC, AMC Entertainment (UK) Limited was renamed UCI (UK) Limited in 1989 following its acquisition by CIC/UA Multiplex BV. CIC (UK) continued to exist as an operating company but this starts getting into company structure spaghetti.
By the end of 1990 UA were no longer involved and the ultimate shareholders were MCA Inc. and Paramount Communications Inc., hence “UCI – A Universal/Paramount Company,” with UK subsidaries still directly owned by holding companies registered in the Netherlands.
Not sure when the former CIC sites changed their branding to UCI but certainly before the mid-1990s.
“the filmworks” was a UCI brand; going by the Cinema Treasures description and theatreofvarieties' earlier post on this page, the refurbishment was in 2002.
I can’t find any record of “the filmworks company” referred to in the Cinema Treasures description.
Odeon and UCI were acquired by Terra Firma Investments, Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group was formed, and High Wycombe was one of the divested sites acquired by Empire Cinemas in 2005.
Very difficult to find information on old seating products but I did find a catalogue (IIRC from the 2000s) with list prices for American Seating Company products. Far more expensive than I’d expected! That might explain why the seating, whether American Seating Company or not, but assumed to be of the highest quality, were replaced with cheaper models rather than overhauling the existing with replacement parts.
The “rocker” action of the old Empire 1 seats was absolutely fantastic, better than any other seat I’ve ever sat on!
Backlit THX sign? Must have been a custom one?
One design concept introduced, as part of The Film Works rebranding, that I very much like is their “black box” auditoria to improve viewing. The auditoria at this cinema retain that interior look even after Empire Cinemas took over. During a movie, all ceiling lights are switched off, something that no other cinema chains that I visit seem to do. I’ve emailed both Vue and Cineworld regarding how distracting it can be to have to sit through a movie with bright ceiling lights remaining lit and their response is that they have no choice due to health and safety requirements.
How is it then Empire Cinemas do not have to obey these requirements?
The backlit THX sign outside the old screen 1 was similar in concept to this:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/thx-lightbox-sign-official-great-home-67378408
Screens 3 & 4 now have upgraded seats in the rear half of the auditorium. Seat count has been reduced from 355 down to 218 (+3 disabled spaces) which now consist of:
130 Standard Seats
30 Electric Recliners
17 Double Sofas
24 Armchairs
Uplift charges for these upgraded seats cost £2 for sofa/armchair and £4 for a recliner.
It is good to see Empire Cinemas reinvesting in this site as it has been many years since anything has changed. It would have been fantastic if they could have upgraded screen 3 (which was previously a THX auditorium many years ago) to IMPACT with Dolby Atmos surround sound. Look forward to trying out these new upgraded seats on my next visit.
The original seats in High Wycombe aren’t the same as the American comfort seats installed in 1960 in Empire 1. Having seen them side by side the difference is quite a lot. Yes, the seats back in old Empire 3 were the same as High Wycombe originals. Sadly, I don’t know who made them. i can tell you that they are VERY narrow, mainly due to the boxed out nature of the arm rests. There are about 100 of the American comfort seats from Empire 1 in storage.
The seats at Empire 1 where rocker seats. The seats at high wycombe maybe same company make not same model the seat back didn’t recline which made it less comfy.
The American Seating Company is now only in transport sectors, they have no product lines for theatres/cinemas. The relevant assets for those were acquired by the Irwin Seating Company.
The Irwin Seating Company had reissued some of the classic American Seating Company lines, but this no longer seems to be the case. However, they do still have products of this type under their theatre lines; obviously, expectations of cinema seating are now very different.
The old Empire 1 seats look a good deal more “plush” than old photos of similar products from American Seating Company, so presumably were fully reupholstered. They were exceptionally comfortable, and part of that was the excellent “rocker” action.
theatreofvarieties: If I may ask, what they are doing in storage? Is there no plan to reuse or sell them?
Architect of the Wycombe Six was Jim Unick, first manager was one Geoff Greaves who now operates the Merlin Cinemas circuit.
Omniplex Cinema Group has now taken over Empire Cinemas, High Wycombe
Ireland’s Omniplex Cinema Group Sets UK Expansion With Purchase Of Five Empire Cinema Locations
They have their own PLF, OmniplexMAXX
Here’s hoping they install one at High Wycombe as I’ll certainly be going there to check it out.