Odeon Whiteleys & The Lounge
Queensway,
London,
W2 4YN
Queensway,
London,
W2 4YN
1 person
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Correction first purpose built multiplex.
@rivest266 Thanks for posting this ad. It’s interesting to see what was playing when a multiplex opened.
Grand opening ad posted. It was the first purpose-built cinema in London.
Grand opening ad:
UCI Whiteleys of Baywater opening 01 Dec 1989, Fri Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
https://www.sixsenses.com/en/corporate/media-center/press-releases/2019/six-senses-london-to-open-in-the-former-art-deco-whiteleys-department-store
The Whiteley’s complex will be transformed into IHG’s Six Senses luxury wellness hotel brand…announced for 2023 but probably 2024 now
I just added a photo of the marquee, which I took in 1991 when it was UCI. Never saw a film there, but the mall looked luxurious and pleasant at that time. I remember a good meal with friends at the Café Rouge. It was so miserable though, the last time I checked in 2011, and the cinema (now Odeon) looked abandoned although it was open.
Just a correction on some of the details; when it originally opened screen 1 alone, had a capacity for 1200 people, screen 2 was 900. It had the largest auditoriums outside of central London. I worked there as an usher as part of the original team from November 1989 (first month was for training prior to the opening) to October 1990 and I worked the royal premiere of Ghostbusters II attended by Princess Anne. The multiplex had the capability of projecting a single print to all 8 screens, though that capability was never utilised, at least not while I worked there. For the royal premiere of Ghostbusters II, 8 separate prints were used for all 8 screens, but projected simultaneously.
now closed
Addendum: The Section 106 agreement available in 15/10072/FULL (Description field: “WHITELEYS+CENTRE+S106+AGREEMENT”) includes a clause stating that the cinema must be ready for occupation prior to the occupation of the retail units.
Further, in the previously linked variation application (16/12203/FULL,)the “Decision Notice” document in which permission is granted includes a condition stating that the cinema demise is restricted to such use only, with one reason given being “to safeguard the amenities of adjoining residents and future residents of the development.”
Whitleys Redevelopment — 15/10072/FULL is the main planning application; however, as changes were made to basement levels, the more obvious one to reference is a later variation application.
To quote from the summary: (My emphasis.)
“Demolition of and redevelopment of building behind retained and refurbished facades to Queensway and Porchester Gardens facades to provide a mixed use development comprising three basement levels, ground floor and up to 10 upper floor levels, containing up to 103 residential units (Class C3), retail floorspace (Class A1 and A3) facing Queensway and arranged around a new retail arcade below re-provided central atrium and central retail courtyard, public car park, hotel (Class C1), cinema (Class D2), gym (Class D2), crèche (Class D1)…”
263 documents (yes, REALLY!) are associated with this application.
The proposed cinema is accessed from Ground Floor Level, with three lifts down to Basement Level 3, with the cinema’s demise shown on the documents titled “GROUND FLOOR PLAN” and “BASEMENT 03” in the above-linked planning application.
The cinema is briefly covered in the Design and Access Statement, specifically p3 (PDF page number) of the document titled “DAS PART 2” in the above-linked planning application.
It says that the proposed cinema was moved to level B3 to allow for an increased “clear height of 6.5m… to meet the spatial requirements of contemporary cinemas” and “minimise the potential impact to its immediate adjacenies.”
The page mentions “potential operators” and states that “it is assumed that the unit will be developed to shell and core only… the final demise configuration will be further developed…”
Hence, the cinema layout shown in the plans appears to be indicative only of a possible arrangement.
Nevertheless, here are the details:
On level B3 three auditoria are shown, each identical in size, with near wall-to-wall screens of ~15.5m (~50ft. width), in auditoria measuring ~18m (~60ft.) wide by ~19m wide (~62ft.) internally, or ~3700sq.ft. in area.
Each is shown having 5 rows of recliner seats in straight lines, except for 2-3 seats on each sides which are “toed in,” and the last row has 6 accessible spaces. Total seats per auditorium – 62 + 6 accessible.
A foyer area is also shown in the B3 plans, and the cinema’s entrance is shown on the Ground Floor Plan, with another lobby area, including seating (?).
Noting that the Design and Access Statement states a “clear height of 6.5m (~21ft.), it is clear that a 50ft. wide "scope” screen would, vertically, at best be a tight fit indeed, or impossible, suggesting that these “indicative” layouts are illustrative only.
Having a quick look at the first “Basement Impact Assessment” document, it provides an overview of the history of the site, alterations made to the Whitleys Department Store, and other historical material including “lost” rivers, should anyone reading this be interested in such.
N.B. For clarity, previous two posts removed; contents of which were amalgamated and revised for this post.
[ADDED TEXT TO OVERCOME “YOUR COMMENT APPEARS TO BE SPAM!” ERROR MESSAGE.]
The shopping centre it sits in is being redeveloped – plans do include a replacement cinema at basement level: http://whiteleysdevelopment.co.uk/development.php
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
closing down on 25/11/18
This was one of my primary local cinemas in London over the first 10 years of my residence here…easy to book and use with decent restaurants in the complex and in the immediate neighbourhood…a not exhaustive list of pictures I’ve seen here would include Batman Returns, Husbands and Wives, The Player, Clear and Present Danger, Speed, Addams Family, True Lies, Hoffa, Sleepless in Seattle, Gosford Park, Air Force One, The Lion King, Hannibal, Insomnia, Twelve Days, The Royal Tenenbaums,Unforgiven, Mrs.Doubtfire,The Hand that Rocks the Cradle The Whiteley’s complex has undergone a number of changes over the years and is now a bit more upscale in terms of dining with the addition of Rowley Leigh’s Cafe Anglais. The chef has designed the menus for the Lounge screens.