That link includes a great interior shot of TCL Chinese Theatre.
Shame they have stairs running right through the centre of so many rows as that is where I prefer to sit, directly in line with the centre of the screen.
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.
The below-linked mentions this screen is the world’s second largest (presumably after Lotte Cinema Super Plex G Theater World Towe, Seoul, South Korea which is 34m wide) at 32m wide and up to 23m high.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BawBczQGGiQ
Surprised it doesn’t have more seats (480). TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, for example, is 28.65m wide x 14.02m high and has 986 seats (the most of any IMAX auditoria worldwide).
As I suspected, the Cineworld seating layout page is way off scale. Probably just a generic image used for the screen of any and all auditoria across the whole of their website?
These licensing plans that you post links for sure offer a level of detail one may otherwise never be privy to. Had not previously ever thought to search and look through any.
When booking tickets online for IMAX at Cineworld, Leicester Square the width of the screen on the seating layout page surely can’t be to scale? It isn’t even as wide as the centre section of seats alone meaning anyone sat on the two side sections would be watching from a 45-degree angle.
If I’m not mistaken UCI Wycombe 6 had identical seats as those you mention from the good ole days at The Empire, Leicester Square and I agree they were super comfy.
I was really annoyed when they were replaced with inferior seats some years later but could understand the decision to replace rather than refurbish due to cost implications.
There’s an image of the Gallery luxury seats in this article:
http://what2.co.uk/the-gallery-at-odeon/
If you do a google image search you’ll find others too. ;o)
Will endeavor to visit the Superscreen at Cineworld, O2, Greenwich at some point. It’s one of zappomatic’s favorite auditoria.
Watched Sicario 2: Soldado earlier today so there’s nothing else released until after the Odeon discount code expires that I want to see but haven’t already. Thanks for the heads up all the same. :o)
Would have been nice if that article you’ve linked to above included a list of all of the PLF sites.
What happened to HFR, haven’t heard it mentioned for years? I watched The Hobbit (first movie) in HFR and did not like it. The movie looked far too well lit and more like a tv drama than a Hollywood movie imo.
All of these contrast ratio’s pale in comparison to Dolby Cinemas 1,000,000:1! :O
Wonder when and where Sony’s 4K RGB laser projectors (capable of HDR, HFR etc) will be installed in the UK? Vue, West End would surely be the most likely location?
Screen 9 (IMAX) measures an unimpressive 15.1m x 7.76m (smaller than Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead (18.3m x 10m) that I visit fairly often. Had I known that prior to purchasing tickets, I probably wouldn’t have bothered? Two tickets plus food cost the best part of £70. That’s over twice the cost of owning the movie on 4K UHD (including regular BluRay).
Used to watch quite a few movies at this cinema back around the mid 00’s. Usually two to four movies in one day (Sundays). The two largest screens (numbers 10 & 11?) seemed a decent size at the time. The smallest screen with a mere four rows seemed more like a private screening room and to date is the smallest cinema auditoria that I have ever watched a movie in.
The luxury leather seats in the Gallery sections are the most comfortable I have tried at any cinema (I have yet to visit a cinema that has luxury electric recliners). Shame, that they are only available to customers willing to pay ~£24 per ticket. Yes, the price includes popcorn/drinks but if one does not want either of those then the uplift charge of over £10 compared to a non-Gallery seat seems rather high!
Highly unlikely to happen but I wish Cineworld would upgrade the seats in the LSQ IMAX auditoria to luxury leather recliners. A number of Odeon Luxe and Showcase de Luxe cinemas across the country have or are being upgraded to those so why can’t/shouldn’t Cineworld’s ‘flagship’ cinema be able to match those?
I watched Rampage in IMAX at Odeon, Greenwich. Not the largest IMAX screen but was passing the area with a friend of mine who had never been to this cinema and I had often mentioned it having watched many movies there in the mid 00’s (before IMAX was installed). Odeon’s food offering there is significantly better than that found at Cineworld, Empire or Vue cinemas imo.
If there was no uplift charge for IMAX (rather than Superscreen) would you be asking Cineworld to take your money (for an Unlimited West End card)? ;o)
“My favourite non-IMAX large format screen is the Superscreen at Cineworld Leicester Square – it’s 0.5m narrower than the O2 one but is taller (1.9 ratio) and has an absolutely superb Dolby Atmos set up.”
You’ll like this particular t&c as I know you’re a big fan of Cineworld, Leicester Square’s Superscreen:
19.6 Cineworld Leicester Square Superscreen at no extra cost for West End Unlimited Members offer:
Superscreen uplifts are currently not payable by West End Unlimited Members at Cineworld Leicester Square. 3D (where applicable), D-Box, IMAX, 4DX, VIP and event cinema uplifts are still payable. Charges apply for 3D glasses and Box/Star/Balcony and other special or premium seating as they are not included as part of Unlimited Membership.
After having a Cineworld Unlimited card for over 12 months your standard red card will be replaced by a premium black one which will entitle you to extra benefits including no uplift charge for 3D movies and 25% off food/drink instead of 10% off.
My mistake must have got my wires crossed thinking that Meerkat Movies excluded Vue West End and Cineworld, Leicester Square instead of other promotions (Tesco Clubcard points converted into Cineworld ticket vouchers and discounted ticket vouchers for Cineworld and Vue purchased via Co-Op Mid-Counties member services for example) which definitely exclude those West End flagship cinemas.
12 months of Meerkat Movies can be obtained by purchasing a single days travel insurance within the UK for less than a few pounds! ;o)
I feel your pain! Almost all discount/promotions on tickets offered by cinema chains always seem to exclude Vue, West End and Cineworld, Leicester Square. Even Meerkat Movies 2-4-1. Guess they feel London residents are wealthy enough to pay sky high West End prices and don’t require any discounts and the same applies to those visiting the Capital!
A number of Vue cinemas (~44 Vue cinemas nationwide) have introduced £4.99 (or £5.99 depending on location) pricing for all 2D seats and £3.99 on Super Saver Mondays (requires registering for free on the Vue website after which they supply you with a unique code which you can use each week to purchase up to 10 tickets).
Participating £4.99 Vue Cinemas: Aberdeen, Barrow, Bedford, Birmingham Star City, Bristol Longwell Green, Bury, Carlisle, Cheshire Oaks, Cleveleys, Darlington, Farnborough, Gateshead, Halifax, Hamilton, Hartlepool, Hull, Inverness, Lancaster, Livingston, Leeds Kirkstall, Leeds Light, Leicester, Manchester Lowry, Manchester Printworks, Merthyr, Norwich, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading, Romford, Southport, Swansea, Thanet and York.
Purchase a ticket for a 2D film in a standard seat and you will pay only £4.99.
Additional 75p booking fee per ticket applies to tickets purchased online via myvue.com and via our call centre.
Additional charges apply for films shown in IMAX or Xtreme screens (no Xtreme upgrade charge at Plymouth), 3D screenings, 3D glasses, VIP seating upgrades and upgrades to the Manchester Printworks Scene bar with all-inclusive food and drink.
I asked a member of staff about this offer and was told that initially, it’s a 6-month trial but if it is popular it could become permanent and since it had been introduced they had been a lot busier. Good news and hopefully more locations will be included. Cinemas make very little from ticket sales due to the percentage film studios take, all overheads including wages are paid from the profit made on food/drink sales.
Talking of THX certified cinemas didn’t realise until earlier today that the AMC Broadway Plaza 12 (now Odeon, Broadway Plaza in Birmingham) was originally THX certified.
Can anyone confirm the size of the IMAX at this cinema, I have two notes (26.3m by 18.8m and 17.94m x 9.58m) and not sure which is correct?
Any more information regarding the upgrade to IMAX with Laser now that we’re halfway through 2018? It’s certainly not listed on the official IMAX site as being a location where IMAX with Laser has been installed.
Unless I’m mistaken this is the sixth largest IMAX screen in the UK (23.91m x 12.92m) and only the second to have IMAX with Laser installed. 15 rows x 43 seats.
Just looked at the seating layout for screen 10 (IMAX) and it has 14 rows x 44 seats (back row only, main width is around 38 seats wide) which makes it one of the widest IMAX auditoria in the UK.
Does anyone happen to know the screen dimensions? Really wish Cineworld would provide more auditoria info on their website like Odeon does.
That link includes a great interior shot of TCL Chinese Theatre.
Shame they have stairs running right through the centre of so many rows as that is where I prefer to sit, directly in line with the centre of the screen.
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.
The below-linked mentions this screen is the world’s second largest (presumably after Lotte Cinema Super Plex G Theater World Towe, Seoul, South Korea which is 34m wide) at 32m wide and up to 23m high.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BawBczQGGiQ
Surprised it doesn’t have more seats (480). TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, for example, is 28.65m wide x 14.02m high and has 986 seats (the most of any IMAX auditoria worldwide).
We’re lucky to have you posting direct links to licensing plans of interest @CF100 ;o)
As I suspected, the Cineworld seating layout page is way off scale. Probably just a generic image used for the screen of any and all auditoria across the whole of their website?
These licensing plans that you post links for sure offer a level of detail one may otherwise never be privy to. Had not previously ever thought to search and look through any.
When booking tickets online for IMAX at Cineworld, Leicester Square the width of the screen on the seating layout page surely can’t be to scale? It isn’t even as wide as the centre section of seats alone meaning anyone sat on the two side sections would be watching from a 45-degree angle.
If I’m not mistaken UCI Wycombe 6 had identical seats as those you mention from the good ole days at The Empire, Leicester Square and I agree they were super comfy.
I was really annoyed when they were replaced with inferior seats some years later but could understand the decision to replace rather than refurbish due to cost implications.
There’s an image of the Gallery luxury seats in this article:
http://what2.co.uk/the-gallery-at-odeon/
If you do a google image search you’ll find others too. ;o)
Will endeavor to visit the Superscreen at Cineworld, O2, Greenwich at some point. It’s one of zappomatic’s favorite auditoria.
Watched Sicario 2: Soldado earlier today so there’s nothing else released until after the Odeon discount code expires that I want to see but haven’t already. Thanks for the heads up all the same. :o)
Would have been nice if that article you’ve linked to above included a list of all of the PLF sites.
What happened to HFR, haven’t heard it mentioned for years? I watched The Hobbit (first movie) in HFR and did not like it. The movie looked far too well lit and more like a tv drama than a Hollywood movie imo.
All of these contrast ratio’s pale in comparison to Dolby Cinemas 1,000,000:1! :O
Wonder when and where Sony’s 4K RGB laser projectors (capable of HDR, HFR etc) will be installed in the UK? Vue, West End would surely be the most likely location?
https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/sony-demonstrates-4k-rgb-laser-projector-prototype-at-cinemacon/
Flagship laser projection (2 x Barco DP4K-60L) on the world’s largest cinema screen.
The DP4K-60L can easily be upgraded to HDR, which makes it the most future-proof projector available.
Would love to watch a movie on that screen.
https://www.barco.com/nl/customer-stories/2017/q1/2017-03-31%20lotte%20cinema%20kr
@CF100
I’ve posted a reply on the Odeon, Greenwich page.
I did enjoy Rampage for what it was, a movie based on a video game, it had some good action and overall was entertaining.
Screen 9 (IMAX) measures an unimpressive 15.1m x 7.76m (smaller than Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead (18.3m x 10m) that I visit fairly often. Had I known that prior to purchasing tickets, I probably wouldn’t have bothered? Two tickets plus food cost the best part of £70. That’s over twice the cost of owning the movie on 4K UHD (including regular BluRay).
Used to watch quite a few movies at this cinema back around the mid 00’s. Usually two to four movies in one day (Sundays). The two largest screens (numbers 10 & 11?) seemed a decent size at the time. The smallest screen with a mere four rows seemed more like a private screening room and to date is the smallest cinema auditoria that I have ever watched a movie in.
The luxury leather seats in the Gallery sections are the most comfortable I have tried at any cinema (I have yet to visit a cinema that has luxury electric recliners). Shame, that they are only available to customers willing to pay ~£24 per ticket. Yes, the price includes popcorn/drinks but if one does not want either of those then the uplift charge of over £10 compared to a non-Gallery seat seems rather high!
Highly unlikely to happen but I wish Cineworld would upgrade the seats in the LSQ IMAX auditoria to luxury leather recliners. A number of Odeon Luxe and Showcase de Luxe cinemas across the country have or are being upgraded to those so why can’t/shouldn’t Cineworld’s ‘flagship’ cinema be able to match those?
I watched Rampage in IMAX at Odeon, Greenwich. Not the largest IMAX screen but was passing the area with a friend of mine who had never been to this cinema and I had often mentioned it having watched many movies there in the mid 00’s (before IMAX was installed). Odeon’s food offering there is significantly better than that found at Cineworld, Empire or Vue cinemas imo.
If there was no uplift charge for IMAX (rather than Superscreen) would you be asking Cineworld to take your money (for an Unlimited West End card)? ;o)
Wonder what the thinking behind renumbering the screen numbers is?
Sorry, it was zappomatic who posted:
“My favourite non-IMAX large format screen is the Superscreen at Cineworld Leicester Square – it’s 0.5m narrower than the O2 one but is taller (1.9 ratio) and has an absolutely superb Dolby Atmos set up.”
I cannot guarantee that these uplift charges will be the same for Cineworld, Leicester Square but it will at least give you an idea of what to expect:
https://www.cineworld.co.uk/xmedia-cw/repo/sites/info/Uplift%20prices%20Sheffield.pdf
You’ll like this particular t&c as I know you’re a big fan of Cineworld, Leicester Square’s Superscreen:
19.6 Cineworld Leicester Square Superscreen at no extra cost for West End Unlimited Members offer:
Superscreen uplifts are currently not payable by West End Unlimited Members at Cineworld Leicester Square. 3D (where applicable), D-Box, IMAX, 4DX, VIP and event cinema uplifts are still payable. Charges apply for 3D glasses and Box/Star/Balcony and other special or premium seating as they are not included as part of Unlimited Membership.
After having a Cineworld Unlimited card for over 12 months your standard red card will be replaced by a premium black one which will entitle you to extra benefits including no uplift charge for 3D movies and 25% off food/drink instead of 10% off.
My mistake must have got my wires crossed thinking that Meerkat Movies excluded Vue West End and Cineworld, Leicester Square instead of other promotions (Tesco Clubcard points converted into Cineworld ticket vouchers and discounted ticket vouchers for Cineworld and Vue purchased via Co-Op Mid-Counties member services for example) which definitely exclude those West End flagship cinemas.
12 months of Meerkat Movies can be obtained by purchasing a single days travel insurance within the UK for less than a few pounds! ;o)
I feel your pain! Almost all discount/promotions on tickets offered by cinema chains always seem to exclude Vue, West End and Cineworld, Leicester Square. Even Meerkat Movies 2-4-1. Guess they feel London residents are wealthy enough to pay sky high West End prices and don’t require any discounts and the same applies to those visiting the Capital!
A number of Vue cinemas (~44 Vue cinemas nationwide) have introduced £4.99 (or £5.99 depending on location) pricing for all 2D seats and £3.99 on Super Saver Mondays (requires registering for free on the Vue website after which they supply you with a unique code which you can use each week to purchase up to 10 tickets).
Participating £4.99 Vue Cinemas: Aberdeen, Barrow, Bedford, Birmingham Star City, Bristol Longwell Green, Bury, Carlisle, Cheshire Oaks, Cleveleys, Darlington, Farnborough, Gateshead, Halifax, Hamilton, Hartlepool, Hull, Inverness, Lancaster, Livingston, Leeds Kirkstall, Leeds Light, Leicester, Manchester Lowry, Manchester Printworks, Merthyr, Norwich, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading, Romford, Southport, Swansea, Thanet and York.
Purchase a ticket for a 2D film in a standard seat and you will pay only £4.99.
Additional 75p booking fee per ticket applies to tickets purchased online via myvue.com and via our call centre.
Additional charges apply for films shown in IMAX or Xtreme screens (no Xtreme upgrade charge at Plymouth), 3D screenings, 3D glasses, VIP seating upgrades and upgrades to the Manchester Printworks Scene bar with all-inclusive food and drink.
Participating £5.99 Vue cinemas: Bicester, Bristol Cribbs, Croydon Grants, Croydon Purley Way, Edinburgh Omni, Harrow, Leamington Spa, Staines and Wood Green.
https://www.myvue.com/legal/terms-and-conditions
I asked a member of staff about this offer and was told that initially, it’s a 6-month trial but if it is popular it could become permanent and since it had been introduced they had been a lot busier. Good news and hopefully more locations will be included. Cinemas make very little from ticket sales due to the percentage film studios take, all overheads including wages are paid from the profit made on food/drink sales.
Talking of THX certified cinemas didn’t realise until earlier today that the AMC Broadway Plaza 12 (now Odeon, Broadway Plaza in Birmingham) was originally THX certified.
Was that screen (70 feet wide) then converted to it’s current IMAX screen or was it a different auditoria altogether?
Can anyone confirm the size of the IMAX at this cinema, I have two notes (26.3m by 18.8m and 17.94m x 9.58m) and not sure which is correct?
Any more information regarding the upgrade to IMAX with Laser now that we’re halfway through 2018? It’s certainly not listed on the official IMAX site as being a location where IMAX with Laser has been installed.
Unless I’m mistaken this is the sixth largest IMAX screen in the UK (23.91m x 12.92m) and only the second to have IMAX with Laser installed. 15 rows x 43 seats.
Shame it’s so far away!
Just looked at the seating layout for screen 10 (IMAX) and it has 14 rows x 44 seats (back row only, main width is around 38 seats wide) which makes it one of the widest IMAX auditoria in the UK.
Does anyone happen to know the screen dimensions? Really wish Cineworld would provide more auditoria info on their website like Odeon does.