Cineworld Cinema - Hemel Hempstead

Jarman Square,
Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4JW

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LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on November 4, 2018 at 2:02 pm

There’s no page as yet for the soon to open Cineworld, Watford so I’ll just post it here. Open to the public on 14th December 2018 and will not only have IMAX with Laser (only the third UK cinema to have it) but also ScreenX (only the sixth cinema in the UK to have it).

https://www.cineworld.co.uk/blog/cineworld-watford-opens-this-december

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/17197542.cineworld-watford-to-open-with-new-270-degree-screen/

Can’t, hardly wait to visit…

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on August 24, 2018 at 1:46 pm

Noticed a few changes whilst on a recent visit.

The Empire Cinemas logo embroidered into the headrests of the IMAX seats have now been changed to all black headrests. These are the same seats as the ones in the IMAX auditorium at Cineworld, LSQ.

The wall and ceiling signs for auditorium numbers, previously were pink as seen in the Overview photo at the top of this page whilst under Empire Cinemas ownership but have since obviously been changed to Red as per Cineworld’s interior colour scheme.

The ‘Upper Level’ to auditoria 7-9 is via two tiny steps (approx. 6 inches in total height). Which seems bizarre that everything couldn’t be kept all on one level. This would have meant the glass barrier wall would not have been necessary down one of the hallways.

If an admin could please update the seat count for IMAX please, its 275 for 2D and 210 for 3D presentations. Also, the reference to IMPACT Luxe could be removed as it never materialised in the end.

Zappomatic
Zappomatic on August 7, 2018 at 6:43 am

Regarding cinemas with identical screens, Cineworld West India Quay has two floors of five screens stacked on top of one another which all match the one above/below, except for screens 1 and 6 (screen six was constructed as a Virgin Cinemas deluxe screen with huge legroom and an additional entrance into the now disused upper bar, but fitted out by UGC with the the same seats and decor as the other screens).

CF100
CF100 on August 6, 2018 at 9:45 pm

LARGE_screen_format: Many thanks for counting all the seats. :–)

Regarding the IMAX seat count mystery, having a look at the seating diagram on the booking page for a 3D performance of “Ant-Man and the Wasp” in the IMAX, it is noticeable that rows A and B are missing.

In the seating diagram for a 2D performance of the same in the IMAX, rows A and B reappear, as do 24 missing side seats in rows C-F.

For 2D IMAX performances, my count of the seats comes to 275 + 4 disabled.

Total for the complex based on your count = 2053 + 43 disabled.

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on August 6, 2018 at 6:51 am

It would appear that Empire Cinemas like to round numbers up with regards to seating capacities that each auditoria contain. In some cases such as the IMAX screen by quite some margin (numbers quoted online were 278 or 281 when in fact it only has 210 + 1 Disabled seat!).

So I went through the laborious task of clicking through every performance of all movies being shown until I had seating layouts of all 17 screens and counted them manually.

These are the correct seating capacities per screen.

Screen 1: IMAX – 210 seats + 1 Disabled Screen 2: Superscreen – 272 + 6 Disabled Screen 3 – 185 seats + 5 Disabled Screen 4 – 160 + 2 Disabled Screen 5 – 153 + 2 Disabled Screen 6 – 50 + 2 Disabled Screen 7 – 110 + 2 Disabled Screen 8 – 109 + 2 Disabled Screen 9 – 105 + 2 Disabled Screen 10 – 77 + 2 Disabled Screen 11 – 81 + 2 Disabled Screen 12 – 78 + 2 Disabled Screen 13 – 76 + 2 Disabled Screen 14 – 76 + 2 Disabled Screen 15 – 63 + 2 Disabled Screen 16 – 78 + 2 Disabled Screen 17 – 105 + 2 Disabled

Total: 1,988 + 40 Disabled

Perhaps an Admin could edit the Overview one last time with regards to seating capacities?

CF100
CF100 on August 5, 2018 at 3:57 pm

LARGE_screen_format:

It would seem not only did the idea to have two IMPACT auditoria whilst under Empire Cinemas ownership get dropped at some stage…

Looking at the photo uploaded by SteveAWOL described as “Superscreen 2,” given that this has 9 rows of seats, with >20 seats/row visible—so I assume this is in fact Screen 3—with the photo taken prior to the front row seating being installed either side of the disabled bays?

It is clear from this photo that an Atmos sound system was installed as overheads are clearly visible; the seating is the same Seating Concepts “Empire” model as used in other Empire Cinemas' sites, and other decorative features also follow Empire Cinemas' current house style. I assume the main change resulting from Cineworld’s acquisition was the “star logo” signs and lack of horizontal strips on the sidewalls, and perhaps alterations to the ceiling “recesses” for the overheads, including the addition of red coloured concealed lighting; these would be an easy enough change if the auditorium was at a late stage of development at the time of acquisition.

So, it looks like the second IMPACT auditorium does in fact “exist,” just not branded/priced as a PLF screen. ;–) (Albeit no idea if there’s a dual projection system installed?)

Also, there are no leather recliner seats at this cinema. Which, unless I am mistaken, is another attraction of IMPACT Luxe auditoria?

Both IMPACT auditoria at Empire Ipswich feature reclining seats and double sofas. The LUXE is actually bigger in terms of seat count and screen size than the BLUE; ditto Sutton (albeit they are closer in size.)

There are no other Empire Cinemas venues which feature two IMPACT screens.

Keep in mind that “supersized” seats are a relatively recent development in the UK, and Empire Ipswich opened last year and Empire Sutton re-opened post-refurbishment this year; I suspect IMPACT “LUXE” is simply branding in line with other operators.

(Incidentally, I think high quality leatherette is used rather than leather, which might not perform well given the wear and tear it would be subjected to.)

Usually the only way to find out this information is to go online to the bookings page and work your way through all of the movies and all of the separate performances

Cineworld really ought to add auditorium information to their website. Fortunately, it only took a couple of minutes of clicking around to find a performance programmed for Screen 3—which, compared to the amount of time research takes for some of my posts, is neither here nor there. ;–)

Can’t imagine that got changed after this screen was opened to the public unless the seats got changed adding more legroom which would be the only explanation for a number of rows to be removed.

Doesn’t look like it based on the above-linked photo?

(not 24,766 which obviously is a typo otherwise would surely make this the highest number of seats of any cinema multiplex in the world!)

Oops—almost by an order of magnitude!

Kinepolis Brussels is listed as having 7500 seats on Cinema Treasures, although I wouldn’t be surprised if the seat count has been lowered subsequent to that figure being posted. Off the top of my head, that’s the largest seat count I’ve seen of any multiplex.

Maybe the “bed bug” count in one of the NYC ‘plexes is in the 10s of thousands. ;–)

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on August 5, 2018 at 12:52 pm

From my notes here’s just a handful of cinemas (there’s plenty more I’ve not listed) that have two or more identical auditoria.

Six different auditoria at Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead have the same number of seats as at least one or more other screens.

Cineworld, Enfield has four authoria (Screens 2,7, 9 & 12) that each have 13 rows x 26 seats.

Empire, High Wycombe has three screens that each have identical auditoria layouts plus the same number of seats. Screens 3 & 4 are the largest. Screens 2 & 4 are medium sized. Screens 1 & 6 are small sized. Screens 7 & 8 which were added many years after the original six were built are tiny with very few rows.

Cineworld, High Wycombe – screens 1 & 7 are identical in number of rows and seats followed by screens 3 & 6.

Cineworld, Sheffield – Screens 6 & 8 both have 18 rows x 33 seats.

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on August 5, 2018 at 12:20 pm

It would seem not only did the idea to have two IMPACT auditoria whilst under Empire Cinemas ownership get dropped at some stage but also it would appear I was given misinformation by one of the manageress’ as she told me both auditoria would be identical and the second IMPACT would open approximately six months after the first one did. Looking at some of the other Empire Cinema sites that have two IMPACT auditoria, some of them have one IMPACT (sometimes referred to as IMPACT Blue) and one IMPACT Luxe which tends to be larger and have more seats.

So, it doesn’t surprise me that Screen 3 has significantly more seats than Screen 2. The screen size itself is not particularly large. Think I watched The Snowman in that screen October 2017? Also, there are no leather recliner seats at this cinema. Which, unless I am mistaken, is another attraction of IMPACT Luxe auditoria?

I had noted (although unsure from which source) Screen 3 as being 14 rows x 31 seats. Usually the only way to find out this information is to go online to the bookings page and work your way through all of the movies and all of the separate performances at which point you can find out which auditoria each one is being shown in plus you can count the number of rows and seats from the seating selection. Can’t imagine that got changed after this screen was opened to the public unless the seats got changed adding more legroom which would be the only explanation for a number of rows to be removed.

Total seats by my quick count is 2,173 (not 24,766 which obviously is a typo otherwise would surely make this the highest number of seats of any cinema multiplex in the world!)

CF100
CF100 on August 5, 2018 at 11:14 am

LARGE_screen_format:

Screen 3 was originally to be an identical version of Screen 2 (IMPACT: Blue) which has 185 seats. Cineworld obviously rebranded Screen 2 to Superscreen. Screen 3 however is not a Superscreen.

Looking at the booking pages on Cineworld’s site (if I haven’t miscounted!):

Screen 2 (Superscreen) – 11 rows of seats, max. 20 seats/row, total = 185 + 5 disabled.

Screen 3 – 10 rows of seats, max. 30 seats/row, total = 272 + 6 disabled.

(Today’s 20:30 performance of “Ant-Man and the Wasp” is in Screen 3.)

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on August 5, 2018 at 11:12 am

Appreciate the detailed and helpful reply.

As I said, Cineworld Hemel Hempstead is mostly on one level with the exception of a slightly raised area where you go up a handful of steps to three other screens. Or, at least that’s how I remembered seeing it when I was trying to find a restroom after watching a movie in one of the smaller auditoria a couple of years ago.

Will have a full walk around when I’m next there to refresh my memory.

If you take a look at the photo in the overview at the top of this page, although it’s not totally clear, Screen 7 on the right of the image is slightly raised and above the level of Screen 13 to the left of the image. The glass panelling is prevent customers from falling off the edge of this raised walkway.

CF100
CF100 on August 5, 2018 at 10:40 am

LARGE_screen_format:

Trying to think of cinemas which have two literally (internally) identical auditoria?

The only one I can think of is Screens 5 and 7 in Vue West End, where they are vertically stacked; you can overlay the plans of on top of each other. The only difference is that the splay wall fire exits either side of the screen are a bit further forward in Screen 5. Otherwise, the only difference is the differently arranged sidewall decorative LED strips.

(Oddly enough they had slightly different seat counts before the 2017 refurbishment.)

Were any changes made to the IMPACT Blue auditorium post-Cineworld acquisition? It’s not clear whether the Screen 3 fit-out was as specified by Empire or if Cineworld made changes?

(Reply con’d):

Everything is more or less on one (ground) level with the exception of a few steps into some of the smaller screens.

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/24766/photos/197756 shows a sign with “UPPER” and “LOWER” levels marked on it?

(Thanks to anunfortunateevent for uploading numerous photos of this cinema.)

I am always interested to learn more about cinemas.

OK, I shall start adding floor area information, starting with Vue West End. :–)

On the subject of auditoria sizes and shapes, in an ideal world what are the best proportions for IMAX and non-IMAX screens?

Yikes, that’s a difficult question!

Ideally the content should be created, e.g. framed, so that it’s designed for the target relative viewing distance.

“Classic” cinemas layouts are perhaps 1.5-2x screen distance away, plus given a “scope” ratio screen, achieve far less than the vertical angle implied by the basic IMAX criteria (centre seat of last row no more than the screen width away from the centre of the screen.)

My bias is towards sitting closer to the screen, so IMAX criteria would seem to be fairly optimum to create an “immersive” experience extending well into peripheral vision (ignoring “VR” content and other IMO misguided attempts to “break the fourth wall.”)

Acoustics need to be considered—the obvious “solution” (!) would be to build the auditorium within an anechoic chamber somewhat larger than the screen width/height with “floating” stretched fabric walls/ceiling used to form false ceilings and walls.

It would have one luxurious seat on mechanically raised platform accessed via a catwalk over the anechoic chamber material below, which would otherwise by hidden with more “floating” stretched fabric to form a false floor.

Mid to high frequency sections would be strongly directional dispersion-wise, with the single seat on axis. The seating position could be set to 0.5x screen width as default, but as well as being vertically moveable, would also be moveable forwards and backwards, to allow sitting closer or further away from the screen; the angle of the mid/high frequency sections would be automatically altered to match the seating position (and time/level alignment also altered automatically.)

Another option would be a wavefield synthesis-based audio system.

Naturally, it would have a colour-changing lighting system using cold cathode (neon) strips, à la the old Empire 1. ;–)

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on August 5, 2018 at 3:10 am

Just noticed that the overview description at the top of this page seems to have incorrect seating numbers. The quoted numbers are for standard seats but do not include the number of premium seats.

The correct numbers are as follows (taken directly from the ‘Auditorium Information’ page on Empire Cinemas website whilst this cinema was owned and run by them.

Screen 4 – 160 seats (56 premium) Screen 5 – 160 seats (56 premium) Screen 6 – 53 seats (18 premium) Screen 7 – 156 seats (42 premium) Screen 8 – 128 seats (42 premium) Screen 9 – 108 seats (30 premium) Screen 10 – 81 seats (21 premium) Screen 11 – 84 seats (32 premium) Screen 12 – 81 seats (21 premium) Screen 13 – 79 seats (31 premium) Screen 14 – 79 seats (31 premium) Screen 15 – 80 seats (20 premium) Screen 16 – 81 seats (21 premium) Screen 17 – 108 seats (30 premium)

Perhaps an Admin could edit the info above?

Screen 3 was originally to be an identical version of Screen 2 (IMPACT: Blue) which has 185 seats. Cineworld obviously rebranded Screen 2 to Superscreen. Screen 3 however is not a Superscreen. Think I have only watched one movie in Screen 3 so unfortunately, I am unable to confirm if it does indeed have the same number of seats. I shall try to ask a member of staff when next at this cinema.

CF100
CF100 on August 4, 2018 at 10:21 pm

LARGE_screen_format:

Hadn’t really noticed that the large sheltered entrance to this cinema looks to be empty inside. The glass area certainly isn’t to allow daylight into the foyer area as it’s artificial light only inside and there’s not much of that!

Do you mean that it looks empty from outside?

Can’t remember the layout of what it was like back then. I’m guessing from the planning application that you linked to that four auditoria from the original site layout were sold and changed into one or more restaurants which now exist on either side of the cinema as you face the entrance from the car park. Then the cinema was extended further back within the complex.

Here’s what I’ve found so far:


Change of use planning application.

(N.B. Seems to be some minor changes in a further “non-material amendment” application in relation to floor levels and bin area.)

According to the plans:

  • The existing two nightclubs (“Lava”/“Ignite”), situated to the right of the cinema’s main entrance, were converted to 5 new restaurant units.
  • “JJ’s Bar” to the right of the cinema’s main entrance was converted to restaurant use (currently a Frankie & Benny’s.)
  • The bowling alley behind the two nightclubs was converted to cinema use.
  • The four screens on the left side of the cinema’s main entrance were converted to restaurant use; external openings and new finishes, including wooden (“western red cedar”) cladding, added to NW elevation (i.e. the external wall if one approached the cinema’s main entrance, turned left instead of entering, and then right.)
  • Pizza Hut to the left side of the cinema’s main entrance is currently a Prezzo (no idea if unit expanded into the space formerly occupied by the cinema.)
  • Remaining area previously housing an “Aqua Splash” pool, ice rink, and green bowls reconfigured, and decorative changes to the entire main frontage (including removal of cold cathode/neon signage! :–()

Empire Cinemas – Hemel Hempstead Development Update-August 2015.

To quote:

“Following the acquisition of an additional 35000sq ft of space, construction and fit out of Phase 1 (9 of the 17 NEW screens) is well under way and on track to open on Friday 9th October. At which point the current 8 Screens will close and be demolished.”

I guess this actually means that 4 screens were converted to restaurant use, and the area occupied by the other 4 was reuse to house new auditoria?

Incidentally, the above link states the IMAX screen size to be “18.3m x 10m” (=60ft. x 32.8ft.)


Using Google Earth’s “Historical Imagery” function for aerial photo views, the building footprint today is essentially the same as it was in 1999. The two large rooftop chiller units above the cinema, presumably located above the (escape?) corridor between former Auditoria 7/8 and former Auditorium 6(/back of house areas behind former Auditorium 5,) seem to have been replaced with numerous smaller units.

(As an aside, air conditioning plant tends to be located above corridors, and not above auditoria, to help prevent structurally transmitted vibration from being audible in the auditoria.)


Reply to be continued…

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on August 4, 2018 at 3:06 am

Hadn’t really noticed that the large sheltered entrance to this cinema looks to be empty inside. The glass area certainly isn’t to allow daylight into the foyer area as it’s artificial light only inside and there’s not much of that!

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/24766/photos/162124

It’s been almost 20 years since I first visited this cinema, back when it was run by Odeon. Can’t remember the layout of what it was like back then. I’m guessing from the planning application that you linked to that four auditoria from the original site layout were sold and changed into one or more restaurants which now exist on either side of the cinema as you face the entrance from the car park. Then the cinema was extended further back within the complex.

Everything is more or less on one (ground) level with the exception of a few steps into some of the smaller screens. There are a number of long thin corridors which occasionally take a 90-degree turn left or right into other long thin corridors. Looking at the photos of the auditoria entrances will give a better picture of this.

I am always interested to learn more about cinemas. Find some of the back stories and changes made over the years to be quite interesting.

On the subject of auditoria sizes and shapes, in an ideal world what are the best proportions for IMAX and non-IMAX screens?

CF100
CF100 on August 3, 2018 at 7:47 pm

LARGE_screen_format:

Would you happen to know the size of the current 17-screen Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead?

No—although Cinema Treasures' description mentions the acquisition of “35,000sq.ft.” when Empire Cinemas redeveloped this location. (I’m slightly confused, as a planning application dated 2015 only mentions the removal of four auditoria?)

Looking at a planning application dated September 2016, specifically, the area marked in red on the “Site Location Plan,” the plan area is approx. 34,000sq.ft.

Obviously, this wouldn’t necessarily be equal to the gross area of the cinema demise, not least since there are likely to be multiple levels (e.g. booths)—but I guess that’s a reasonable ballpark figure for a “flat” layout of auditoria—though not sure what the layout is at Cineworld Hemel Hempstead?

Also, would you happen to know of any other multiplexes in the UK that are of a similar size (40,000 sq ft)?

Not off the top of my head, but (+/– say ~10%) it’s a pretty typical size—there really would be too many to list?!

To put these sort of dimensions into some sort of context, a typical retail park unit occupied by PC World (not the “Currys PC World Megastore” format) would perhaps be something like 15,000-20,000sq.ft—so you could imagine that ~40,000sq.ft. wouldn’t be unusual for a multiplex?

Overall area figures are interesting—well, at least for those possessing a similar temperament to myself (if anyone?—LOL)—but I think what you really want to know is the width, height and depth of the particular auditoria (and perhaps foyers, lobbies, etc.) that have captured your attention?

(If you are interested, I have some “published” figures and estimates which I could post, but it might be better if I did this on the respective pages for each cinema.)

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on August 3, 2018 at 10:26 am

@CF100

Would you happen to know the size of the current 17-screen Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead? I’m trying to gauge how big the new 9-screen Cineworld, Watford, which is 40,000 sq feet, is going to be in relation to other cinemas that I have visited?

Also, would you happen to know of any other multiplexes in the UK that are of a similar size (40,000 sq ft)?

CF100
CF100 on June 11, 2018 at 4:47 am

LARGE_screen_format: Thanks for the link!

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on June 10, 2018 at 6:32 am

Saw the £7m refurbishment cost of Empire Cinemas, Hemel Hempstead in this article:

https://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/phase-one-of-7million-cinema-revamp-set-to-be-unveiled-1-6909849

Cineworld, Stevenage IMAX is 11 rows by 31 seats. Not sure of the screen or auditorium dimensions but it did not look particularly big when I popped in (no movie or trailers were playing at the time) and had a quick look.

CF100
CF100 on June 9, 2018 at 3:09 pm

Thanks again for taking the time to share such a detailed reply.

You’re welcome, thanks also for your long reply. :–)

My friend who I visit in that area can’t stand trailers (I’ve always enjoyed watching them myself, after all, it is often based on the strength of a good trailer that I decide if I wish to watch a particular movie at the cinema or wait for the home release)

I do find it odd that someone would flat out refuse to sit through trailers? In my view there should be a whole sequence of “pre-show” elements extending from the entrance (or even before the entrance), through the foyer… and the trailers would certainly form part of that sequence. At least they’re all on YouTube in good quality these days…

That link to the Empire cinema in Ipswich is awesome. Wish all cinemas offered something similar online as it reveals so much more information than what can be found on the majority of their websites. Let’s face it most seem to merely be a portal for online bookings and very little else!

It’s great, I particularly like the “Dollhouse” mode where you can see the whole complex in 3D.

Empire Cinemas have generally been better than others at posting auditoria details on their site but they’re still very patchy. Their site used to have an excellent 360deg photo of Empire 1; I found the file from the page source and downloaded the software needed to view it. :–)

I’ll see if I can manage to take a photo of the very large rear IMAX speakers so you can perhaps identify the exact type/model. They are the largest surround speakers I can recall seeing in any auditorium recently, perhaps ever

Thanks, that would be great. :–)

I did walk into the IMAX screen at Cineworld, Stevenage after watching Justice League in 4DX there just to see the size of the auditorium. It is probably the smallest IMAX screen I’ve seen and certainly not one I’d pay to watch a movie on!

Not sure how big the Stevenage IMAX is? It does get into the difficult question of what makes an IMAX an IMAX. Obviously absolute screen size is part of it but it’s also about the geometry of the auditorium and in particular relative distance to screen width and height from seats.

IMAX and OMNIMAX Theatre Design – March 1983 SMPTE Journal.

Looking forward to checking out the new IMAX screen at Cineworld, Watford in a few months. The only other two IMAX screens in the UK that I wouldn’t mind checking out at some point if ever in the areas would be Vue, Manchester Printworks (previously owned by Odeon) and Cineworld, Sheffield which is the only other current IMAX with Laser in the UK other than Cineworld ‘Empire’, Leicester Square.

Of the IMAX formats the only one you’re missing is OMNIMAX—I went to one in the US a couple of times.

According to an article in the Hollywood Reporter, the new IMAX with Laser system—aimed at smaller auditoria—costs $600,000-700,000.

Just stumbled across this article outlining the possibility of a new cinema/restaurant complex in Hemel Hempstead town centre:

http://www.hhs.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Article-on-New-Cinema.pdf

Couldn’t see any date mentioned or whether these possible plans have since been scrapped after Empire Cinemas spent £7m totally refurbishing what was old Odeon 9-screen cinema on the Leisure World (now renamed to Jarman Place) site?

Hmm, where was the £7m figure from?

Planning Application Received August 2017 (Granted.)

Having estimated a 90ft.+ wide screen for the Auditorium 1, with an almost 9000sq.ft. auditorium, I checked satellite imagery of the existing site, and based on this the scale on the floorplan I’m looking at (Proposed Second Floor—the third link marked “Proposed Floor Plan” in the planning application documents page) is out by a factor of 2!

With this corrected scale, the proposed Auditorium 1 I’d estimate to be a slightly more than 14m deep by 14m wide, giving a possible screen width of 45ft or so in a 2000sq.ft. auditorium. I counted about 140 seats, with larger seats in the last two rows.

Given that it doesn’t seem to have anything much in the way of a unique offer in an already well-served catchment area, it’s hard to see this scheme as viable at this stage?

Spoke to Andre Mort a bunch of times in the past as he often spent time visiting the UCI Wycombe 6 (now an 8-screen Empire cinema) site which was my local cinema for many years.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Empire Cinemas had some technical facilities there for testing/configuring new gear, etc. Would you be kind enough to share anything interesting he said to you? :–)

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on June 7, 2018 at 6:48 pm

Thanks again for taking the time to share such a detailed reply.

It’s rare that I go into an auditorium at Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead whilst the lights are on prior to when the adverts and trailers begin but I will certainly have a look when there next. My friend who I visit in that area can’t stand trailers (I’ve always enjoyed watching them myself, after all, it is often based on the strength of a good trailer that I decide if I wish to watch a particular movie at the cinema or wait for the home release) and so often delays us arriving in plenty of time which is what I always do when going to cinemas with others or myself.

That link to the Empire cinema in Ipswich is awesome. Wish all cinemas offered something similar online as it reveals so much more information than what can be found on the majority of their websites. Let’s face it most seem to merely be a portal for online bookings and very little else!

With regards to the interior of the auditoriums at Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead, I can’t comment on all of them as 90%+ of my recent visits have always been to the IMAX screen. I’ve watched one movie in the old IMPACT Blue and one in Cineworld’s SUPERSCREEN and maybe 3-5 in the some of the smaller screens, generally when just catching movies towards the end of their release run. Ordinarily, I generally wouldn’t normally bother and instead, wait for the home release but if I was already planning to watch a newly released movie there and had time to fit in a double or triple-bill on the same day then I have gone ahead and done so. Often depends on the performance times whether or not this is a viable option.

Empire Cinemas that I have visited (High Wycombe and Hemel Hempstead) have had a black box style auditorium design in all of their regular auditoriums. Black walls with no Empire signage. Not sure of what changes Cineworld have made since taking over? I’ll try and ask a member of staff the next time I’m there but based on past experiences most of the cinema staff I approach say they are new and don’t know or probably aren’t interested in such details! The photos uploaded by members here showing the various corridors with pink-lit screen numbers are all from when Empire refurbished this site. The biggest change Cineworld implemented was the whole main foyer area as you enter the cinema. The main concession stand is now directly opposite the entrance as opposed to down the left-hand-side (Empire ownership). Black floor tiles with sparkly flecks like Cineworld ‘Empire’ Leicester Square and other sites plus lots of LED signage with video advertising.

I’ll see if I can manage to take a photo of the very large rear IMAX speakers so you can perhaps identify the exact type/model. They are the largest surround speakers I can recall seeing in any auditorium recently, perhaps ever. I’ve, thus far, only managed to visit a handful of IMAX cinemas: Pepsi IMAX, Trocadero Centre, Cineworld, Enfield, BFI IMAX, The Empire/Cineworld, Leicester Square, Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead and Odeon, Greenwich. I did walk into the IMAX screen at Cineworld, Stevenage after watching Justice League in 4DX there just to see the size of the auditorium. It is probably the smallest IMAX screen I’ve seen and certainly not one I’d pay to watch a movie on!

Looking forward to checking out the new IMAX screen at Cineworld, Watford in a few months. The only other two IMAX screens in the UK that I wouldn’t mind checking out at some point if ever in the areas would be Vue, Manchester Printworks (previously owned by Odeon) and Cineworld, Sheffield which is the only other current IMAX with Laser in the UK other than Cineworld ‘Empire’, Leicester Square.

Just stumbled across this article outlining the possibility of a new cinema/restaurant complex in Hemel Hempstead town centre:

http://www.hhs.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Article-on-New-Cinema.pdf

Couldn’t see any date mentioned or whether these possible plans have since been scrapped after Empire Cinemas spent £7m totally refurbishing what was old Odeon 9-screen cinema on the Leisure World (now renamed to Jarman Place) site?

I imagine you’ve already seen this article regarding Empire, Hemel Hempstead using Christie’s Vive Audio for their IMPACT installation back in 2015/2016:

https://www.christiedigital.com/emea/about-christie/news-room/press-releases/vive-audio-empire-cinemas-english

Spoke to Andre Mort a bunch of times in the past as he often spent time visiting the UCI Wycombe 6 (now an 8-screen Empire cinema) site which was my local cinema for many years.

CF100
CF100 on June 7, 2018 at 3:28 pm

LARGE_screen_format:

As there were originally plans to build two IMPACT screens, each would have had another monicker to differentiate them, Blue and Red. AFAIK that’s all that these two colours meant. There was never any IMPACT Luxe signage that I saw.

Ah! That makes sense—it was IMPACT LUXE that, now that you mention it, I had been thinking of as far as luxury seating goes. (I hadn’t read the Cinema Treasures text.)

As for sound quality, I was deeply disappointed with the Dolby Atmos system in IMPACT Blue.

Thanks for your thoughts on the sound system in that auditorium. I wasn’t really thinking of Atmos in terms of rear/overhead use, so much as particularly an overall clean uncoloured sound, including the screen speakers as they use a number of ribbon tweeters rather than the usual horn-loaded mid/high frequency sections which are prone to colouration.

The rears also use this configuration:

Empire Cinemas Ipswich 3D Tour – Select “Floorplan” – They can be seen in any of the IMPACT auditoria photos but most clearly in the second IMPACT Luxe photo—line array of cone drivers with line array of ribbon tweeters in front.

I’d imagine a similar installation in the Hemel Hempstead Superscreen?

Now either the sound mixers on each of these movies have chosen not to use the overhead channels or the volume level has been set far too low?

Use of overheads does depend on the film and sometimes it does seem that the Atmos mix is an afterthought, plus it’s an aesthetic choice whether to place too much strong directional audio rather than ambience away from the screen.

They look similar to photos of IMAX Kappa(?) speakers at Cineworld ‘Empire’ Leicester Square that were in one of the links you posted.

Those are IMAX’s “Project Kanga” speakers; it’s very difficult these days to find any information on them—there are a few links still floating around the web but they lead to pages which no longer exist (and can’t be retrieved from web.archive.org either!)

They were intended for full size IMAX “GT” auditoria.

Most of the smaller IMAX Digital auditoria seem to use what looks like a scaled down version of them; not sure if they’re the IMAX “MPX” speakers that were IIRC originally designed around the same time for the “MPX” 15/70 system designed to fit into retrofitted venues.

Image of auditorium with smaller IMAX rear speakers.

The back row in the centre section is slightly behind these speakers and as they are front firing you totally miss out on hearing most, if not all of the sound.

Alas this situation is far from unique, and it’s perhaps surprising that it should those seats should be considered acceptable for IMAX presentations (or in THX certified auditoria for that matter.)

The old Empire 1 (the THX certified system from 2006) actually had two seats of rear speakers, one at booth level, the other on the rear wall underneath the ceiling below booth level, with the two sets time aligned.

Even then, sitting right at the back of the circle/stadia would have been a highly compromised location.

You can’t even see the speakers from there as the ceiling above you must be the floor of the projection booth above. Not a very good design imo hose seats should be heavily reduced in price or simply should not exist.

Although IMAX and others like to claim wide sweet spots, there are inevitably plenty of seats which are totally useless for anyone seeking the best presentation quality possible.

I always pre-book centre of row seats and never at the very back of the auditorium. However, many patrons just don’t know or apparently care. ;–) This can become particularly irritating if you happen to be attending a screening with such individuals as rolling eyes tends to be their response when it is indicated to them that the sound would be ruined in their choice of seats. :–(

A more serious problem is very odd shaped rear arrays, e.g. where some rear speakers are placed on the rear wall and others on top of an entrance/exit area protruding into the auditorium! In such conditions there’s no “sweet spot.”

the leather seating in the IMAX auditorium still have Empire Cinemas embroidered into the backs.

Good grief. They were changed from “EMPIRE CINEMAS” to “PEPSI MAX / IMAX” logos in the Empire Leicester Square IMAX not long after opening! Cineworld do seem to suffer from corporate interia at times.

How much of Empire Cinemas' interior finishes remain in the various auditoria?

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on June 6, 2018 at 4:39 pm

Whilst under Empire Cinemas ownership, both the IMAX plus IMPACT auditoriums at this Hemel Hempstead site weren’t numbered as were all of the others. Instead they had huge logos beside the relevant entrance doors. As there were originally plans to build two IMPACT screens, each would have had another monicker to differentiate them, Blue and Red. AFAIK that’s all that these two colours meant. There was never any IMPACT Luxe signage that I saw.

As for sound quality, I was deeply disappointed with the Dolby Atmos system in IMPACT Blue. Zero activity from the overheard speakers and yet I thought an action-packed blockbuster such as Civil War would have been demo material for such a system. Watched Central Intelligence on the IMPACT screen (balcony seats) at Empire, Leicester Square and found the same thing. Then earlier this year revisited the Hemel Hempstead cinema, this time after it was rebranded as a Cineworld SUPERSCREEN and watched The Commuter. Now either the sound mixers on each of these movies have chosen not to use the overhead channels or the volume level has been set far too low?

The best sound I’ve heard at this cinema by far was in IMAX when watching Kong: Skull Island. They look similar to photos of IMAX Kappa(?) speakers at Cineworld ‘Empire’ Leicester Square that were in one of the links you posted. The sweet spot seems to be around the centre of row G in order to fully appreciate the sound. I have watched around a dozen movies in this IMAX screen over the past couple of years and it wasn’t until I watched Kong and sat in row G that I experienced really good sound from the two massive corner mounted speakers. The back row in the centre section is slightly behind these speakers and as they are front firing you totally miss out on hearing most, if not all of the sound. And as for the two or three tiny rows in the two corners of the auditorium well they are positioned even worse. You can’t even see the speakers from there as the ceiling above you must be the floor of the projection booth above. Not a very good design imo hose seats should be heavily reduced in price or simply should not exist.

The old Empire Cinemas sign (as you entre Jarman Park from the roundabout) still hasn’t been replaced by a Cineworld one and the leather seating in the IMAX auditorium still have Empire Cinemas embroidered into the backs.

CF100
CF100 on June 6, 2018 at 3:15 pm

LARGE_screen_format: Thomas Anderson (“Benefical owner” of Empire Cinemas) holds a couple of patents on auditorium geometry.

Cinema structure and a method for constructing a cinema structure.

IMAX Corp. also holds patents on “theatre geometry.”

Therefore, I’m not sure if Cineworld’s Superscreens “can” be the “same” as IMPACT auditoria, excepting the ones they’ve inherited from Empire Cinemas. Certainly most (or all?) “premium large format” auditoria I’ve looked at have the last row considerably further away from the screen in relation to the screen’s width.

Not sure exactly what “IMPACT Blue” means? My impression was that it related to luxury seating vs. the “regular” “IMPACT” screens.

Christie adds Vive Audio Excellence to Luxury Empire Cinemas Screen.

The above linked press release is about the Hemel Hempstead IMPACT screen (as it was then), it looks like Christie Vive line array speakers were installed, so your views on the sound quality achieved would be of interest?

Also, notice it says “The IMPACT screen uses Empire Cinema’s patented IMPACT design…”

LARGE_screen_format
LARGE_screen_format on June 6, 2018 at 2:43 pm

Spoke to a manageress when visiting this cinema, whilst under Empire Cinemas ownership, to watch Captain America: Civil War (May 2016) regarding their IMPACT screens. Their website mentioned a new IMAX screen plus two IMPACT screens were being added as part of a major refurbishment. My movie was in Screen 2: IMPACT Blue. Enquired when the second IMPACT screen (I believe it was going to called IMPACT Red?) was due to open and would there be any difference to the existing one? Was told it would be identical and would hopefully be open in six months time.

There must have been a change of plans as Screen 3 was never converted into an IMPACT screen whilst an Empire cinema. It has 10 rows of 20 seats whereas screen 2 is 10 rows of 30 seats. Cineworld obviously later rebranded screen 2 to their own equivalent of IMPACT which is SUPERSCREEN.

Zappomatic
Zappomatic on September 3, 2016 at 3:06 pm

Now operated by Cineworld.