Coronet Cinema

118 Westbourne Grove,
London, W2 2RR

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Odeon Theatres Ltd., Panton Films, Rank Organisation

Architects: Leonard Allen

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Odeon Westbourne Grove

Nearby Theaters

Coronet Cinema

Located in the Bayswater inner-city district of west London on the corner of Westbourne Grove and Chepstow Road. The Odeon Theatre was planned by the Oscar Deutsch Odeon Theatres Ltd. chain in 1937, to be a 2,050 seat cinema to the design of architect Andrew Mather. Plans were revised and scaled down to a 1,870 seat cinema and some work was started on the building in 1938. Permission was granted in March 1939 to complete the building, but the outbreak of World War II in September 1939 halted all building work.

It wasn’t until 1955, that the Odeon Westbourne Grove was completed, to a re-design by architect Leonard Allen. The Odeon opened on 29th August 1955 with Dirk Bogarde in “Doctor At Sea”. Seating was arranged in stalls and circle and the interior decorative scheme was a rather plain 1950’s style, although there was a screen curtain which had sewn sequins on it that sparkled when the footlights were illuminated.

The Odeon closed on 9th December 1978 for tripling, reopened 21st December 1978 with 698 seats in the former circle and 200 seats in each of the two mini-cinemas under the circle in the rear stalls.

From 24th March 1983 it was taken over by the independent operator Panton Films Ltd. and re-named Coronet Cinema. This was only to last a short while (Panton also operated the nearby Coronet, Notting Hill Gate) and the Coronet Westbourne Grove closed on 9th June 1986 with “"Delta Force”, “To Live and Die in LA” and “Jewel in the Nile”. The site had been sold for re-development and the former Odeon was demolished in October 1986 and a block of flats with retail units was built in its place.

Contributed by David Clarke, Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

AdoraKiaOra
AdoraKiaOra on February 2, 2008 at 10:39 am

My god, this is such a stunning cinema.. My dream building!

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on March 19, 2009 at 4:53 pm

A set over 100 vintage photographs of the Odeon, from its opening to demolition:
View link

woody
woody on June 14, 2010 at 4:55 pm

a press ad from dec 1979 with the Odeon showing an exclusive “West End” run of Billy Wilders “Fedora” as a double bill with “Some Like It Hot"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/4701667212/

cinemanut
cinemanut on April 4, 2014 at 11:23 am

i was chief projectionist in this theatre in the 70s so sad its gone

Robbie25646
Robbie25646 on April 4, 2014 at 12:28 pm

I did relief manager at this Odeon many times between 1972 and 1974 really liked the theatre.

cinemanut
cinemanut on April 24, 2015 at 10:55 am

hi Robbie this is jeff remember?

Robbie25646
Robbie25646 on April 24, 2015 at 2:41 pm

Hello Jeff, yes I do remember you. WOW How you doing? you can contact me at would love to hear from you.

rivest266
rivest266 on May 25, 2021 at 2:26 pm

Grand opening ads posted.

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