Birmingham seems to be well catered for cinema wise and with the recent major renovation of Odeon, Broadway Plaza into Odeon Luxe and the UK’s largest flagship multiplex it could well be the place to visit outside of the Capital.
Odeon Plaza has been fully refurbished into the UK’s largest luxury cinema, work was completed on 11/06/18 when all 12 screens were converted into bespoke theatres. Originally 2,909 seats when AMC opened the site in 2000. Odeon took over in 2012 but now seating capacity has been reduced to 1,264, each and everyone being a soft padded leather seat with electric recliner and triple legroom.
More information regarding the massive refurbishment:
Looking at the Auditorium Info page on the Odeon website, I cannot see any mention of an iSense screen. But, I then clicked on iSense and looked through the list of cinemas in the drop-down menu and sure enough, Milton Keynes Stadium is listed. From there I clicked through the two movies being shown and discovered that screens 1 & 11 both have iSense screens and Dolby Atmos systems installed. Odeon really should update their Auditorium Info on that cinema’s page.
This multiplex only actually has 11-screens, screens 12 to 16 are just the Gallery seat sections to other screens. Which threw me at first seeing so many screens each with very few listed seats.
Well, I shall certainly try and visit this cinema to check out both the IMAX and iSense screens.
£15 in parking for one movie (likely to be over 2 hours including adverts and trailers) is outrageous imo. From the sounds of things this is by no means a flagship cinema and therefore I don’t think I’ll be rushing to visit it anytime soon.
It is not IMAX with Laser. The only two UK cinemas to have that installed are Cineworld (formerly Empire Cinemas) Leicester Square and Cineworld, Sheffield.
Does anyone happen to know the size of the IMAX screen at this cinema?
Have been meaning to check out this cinema but each time a friend of mine has mentioned that car parking is really expensive so instead we have ended up at Vue, North Finchley. Vue, Westfield Shepherds Bush was the last place we paid for car parking when watching a movie and £8 for anything over 2 hours just adds to the cost of admission. We’ve chosen Vue Xtreme at that cinema a couple of times but have left disappointed compared to IMAX. The last movie was Ready Player One which was in scope and because the screen was 1.85:1 around one third of the height is lost due to the black bars which kind of defeats the whole…’as tall as two double decker buses’ advertising.
Does anyone happen to know the size of the IMAX screen (screen 8) at this cinema? It has one of the largest auditoria (15 rows x 36 seats) of any of the IMAX screens I have visited.
60 feet (18.29m) wide, if indeed that is the size of the IMAX screen at Showcase Cinema de Luxe, Bluewater, is the same width as Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead. It seats 281 versus ~450 so I expected a larger screen. Will certainly watch a movie there and possibly also one in XPlus although I may save doing the latter in Showcase Cinema de Luxe, Southampton instead.
Thanks again for sharing some interesting info, I must say I do very much enjoy reading your posts. ;o)
Added this to my list of cinemas to visit. I seem to recall watching one movie at this cinema in one of the small auditoria in the mid to late 90’s. Was shopping in Bluewater, hadn’t planned on watching a movie and had already seen the major new releases elsewhere. IIRC the seats seemed comfy (blue velour?) but that’s about all that I came away thinking at the time.
Does anyone know the size of the IMAX screen (screen 4)? Seems an unsual decision to have both an IMAX screen and a XPlus screen (Showcase’s own proprietary large format) in the same cinema as they are two competing large screen formats.
Presumably, the new screens are auditoria 13 to 17 and use Barco laser projection (which is used at Showcase Cinema de Luxe, Southampton)? Their website just lists Sony 4K projection.
Spent some time clicking through almost all of the current movies being shown to get an idea of the auditoria sizes and most seem pretty decent, certainly for a 17-screen multiplex. Screen 4 (IMAX) seems the largest with of 15 rows x 31 seats. Screen 3 has 16 rows x 28 seats. Screen 15 (XPlus) has 11 rows x 29 seats. The smallest screen seems to be screen 7 which is 10 rows x 11 seats followed by screens 13 & 14 which are Event screens I believe where they show opera performances etc.
Signed up to Showcase Insider which is free and entitles you to discounted tickets on Sunday after 7pm and all day Monday and Tuesday. Also, you earn 10% back in rewards on ticket and food/drink purchases. They also accept Meerkat Movies 2-4-1 on Tuesdays/Wednesdays. Regular ticket prices seem reasonable (cheap compared to the West End, London!).
Don’t often head out towards Dartford but this cinema seems like it warrants a special trip!
Seen as Dolby have recently made the announcement of opening seven Dolby Cinema sites in the UK in collaboration with Odeon cinemas why not also confirm if indeed Odeon, Leicester Square is to be the first such Dolby Cinema?
Surely it would create even more of a buzz rather than if it is kept under wraps until any announcements regarding the re-opening of OLS take place?
Dolby Cinema posted the same news on their twitter feed a couple of days ago. https://twitter.com/DolbyCinema
It’s true – Dolby Cinema is coming to the UK and Germany! Learn more about our partnership with @ODEONCinemas and #Kinopolis here ➡️ http://bit.ly/2HMIEAr
I too thought the entrance would probably originate at the rear of the auditoria instead of either the left or right-hand side of the screen as often is the case in multiplexes I visit.
Odeon, Bournemouth (BH2) has been listed in my smartphone notes, that I’ve been compiling for a while, as a cinema I would like to visit at some point since reading about the opening of the BH2 Leisure Complex.
I’m grateful for all of the detailed knowledge that you share on this site, greatly appreciated. ;o)
Don’t ask me why, but I’ve never read any cinema technology magazines which is even harder to believe considering how many movies I’ve watched at the cinema (at a guess, easily 1000+!) and home cinema magazines that I’ve read over the years.
This is quite a detailed article about the first Dolby Cinema:
A number of different sources have all been covering the same news regarding Dolby Cinema in the UK over the past few days.
This article offers a little extra detail regarding new equipment will be installed:
“Additionally, Odeon Cinemas Group has confirmed that Dolby servers, processors, and speakers will be utilized for all of its European entities going forward.”
And as you already mentioned @CF100…“There’s no word yet on where the seven locations might be. But the Odeon Leicester Square would seem like an obvious candidate.”
That’s possibly the best/biggest cinema news I’ve heard since IMAX with Laser was installed at Empire (now Cineworld), Leicester Square.
Thanks for the link. ;)
One thing I have noticed from all of the online videos I’ve seen of Dolby Cinema auditoria is that they have a really long walk from the screen entrance until you get all the way inside. Almost like a little maze. With the exception of a couple of flagship cinemas (Leicester Square), most multiplexes in the UK have the entrances to auditoria fairly close to one another plus there’s usually a shortish walk (in a straight line as opposed to weaving this way and that). Dolby has five Christie 2K short-throw projectors projecting video images on a 12m digital entry display (floor to ceiling) which customers walk past on their way in.
As seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKp_HKJA4hE
This wouldn’t pose a problem on any newly built cinemas but may require a re-shuffle to existing sites?
What changes, if any, have Vue made to the auditoria since taking over from Warner Village Cinemas at this location? Has the projector(s) used, sound system and speakers all be changed/upgraded?
Which row would you recommend when watching a movie in screen 5 or 7, both from an optimum viewing position and audio sweet spot. I’ve yet to watch a movie at Vue, West End but plan to change that at some point soon.
The Vue trailer that you linked to is one of two that have been shown each time that I have visited one of their cinemas over the past few years. Often the sound during this trailer demonstrates the surrounds and LFE far better than during most/all of the movie!
That was quite a detailed account of your visit, the only thing missing from making it a mystery customer report would have been commenting on the purchase of your ticket and food/drink including whom you were served by and how courteous etc they were!
How full was the performance of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom that you watched? AFAIK reference levels are usually saved for peak times when the auditorium is full or near to full. Certainly, off-peak performances when auditoria are often almost empty are played at lower volume levels.
Back in the 90’s the cinema that I visited the most (UCI Wycombe 6, now Empire Cinemas 8-screen) had red curtains installed in all six auditoria. Screens 1 to 4, the curtain would rise and in the two smallest screen (5 & 6) they would open from the centre outwards. All screens were scope and they had black masking on the left and right sides of the screen which would retract whenever scope movies were shown.
Nowadays this seems to have become less and less the norm. Most of the auditoria that I visit do not have curtains or masking. In addition to looking more professional in terms of presentation, would I be correct in saying that the movable masking provides not only a cleaner edge to the projected image but it may also enhance the perceived contrast as it is a true black, unlike the very dark grey that is seen by most non-laser projection systems?
Why are cinemas in the UK lagging behind with new technology available elsewhere in Europe and the U.S.? Dolby Vision and Auro 11.1 being just two examples.
The first cinema in the UK to have (Barco) laser projection and Dolby Atmos as standard in all screens. Also customisable electric recliners in every screen plus a XPlus screen.
Was just on the Barco website trying to find out if there are any Auro 11.1 equipped auditoriums in the UK and it listed six, one of which was Empire Cinema, Ipswich. Although the auditorium information page only mentions Barco Laser Projectors and nothing about Auro 11.1 surround sound.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
Didn’t realise this cinema was one of the first purpose-built IMAX screens for a while back in 2015.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/resorts-world-cineworld-cinemas-imax-10118026
Birmingham seems to be well catered for cinema wise and with the recent major renovation of Odeon, Broadway Plaza into Odeon Luxe and the UK’s largest flagship multiplex it could well be the place to visit outside of the Capital.
Odeon Plaza has been fully refurbished into the UK’s largest luxury cinema, work was completed on 11/06/18 when all 12 screens were converted into bespoke theatres. Originally 2,909 seats when AMC opened the site in 2000. Odeon took over in 2012 but now seating capacity has been reduced to 1,264, each and everyone being a soft padded leather seat with electric recliner and triple legroom.
More information regarding the massive refurbishment:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/odeons-giant-broadway-plaza-being-14707959
Screen 2 (iSense) is 17.94m x 9.58m high and has 361 seats. Not sure but this may well be the largest iSense screen in the UK?
This cinema is high on my list of ones to visit in the near future.
Looking at the Auditorium Info page on the Odeon website, I cannot see any mention of an iSense screen. But, I then clicked on iSense and looked through the list of cinemas in the drop-down menu and sure enough, Milton Keynes Stadium is listed. From there I clicked through the two movies being shown and discovered that screens 1 & 11 both have iSense screens and Dolby Atmos systems installed. Odeon really should update their Auditorium Info on that cinema’s page.
This multiplex only actually has 11-screens, screens 12 to 16 are just the Gallery seat sections to other screens. Which threw me at first seeing so many screens each with very few listed seats.
Well, I shall certainly try and visit this cinema to check out both the IMAX and iSense screens.
£15 in parking for one movie (likely to be over 2 hours including adverts and trailers) is outrageous imo. From the sounds of things this is by no means a flagship cinema and therefore I don’t think I’ll be rushing to visit it anytime soon.
Thanks for the info.
Nice, finally an IMAX screen outside of London that is (marginally) bigger than Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead and within travelling distance.
Might watch Mission Impossible: Fallout in IMAX there.
It is not IMAX with Laser. The only two UK cinemas to have that installed are Cineworld (formerly Empire Cinemas) Leicester Square and Cineworld, Sheffield.
Does anyone happen to know the size of the IMAX screen at this cinema?
Have been meaning to check out this cinema but each time a friend of mine has mentioned that car parking is really expensive so instead we have ended up at Vue, North Finchley. Vue, Westfield Shepherds Bush was the last place we paid for car parking when watching a movie and £8 for anything over 2 hours just adds to the cost of admission. We’ve chosen Vue Xtreme at that cinema a couple of times but have left disappointed compared to IMAX. The last movie was Ready Player One which was in scope and because the screen was 1.85:1 around one third of the height is lost due to the black bars which kind of defeats the whole…’as tall as two double decker buses’ advertising.
Does anyone happen to know the size of the IMAX screen (screen 8) at this cinema? It has one of the largest auditoria (15 rows x 36 seats) of any of the IMAX screens I have visited.
60 feet (18.29m) wide, if indeed that is the size of the IMAX screen at Showcase Cinema de Luxe, Bluewater, is the same width as Cineworld, Hemel Hempstead. It seats 281 versus ~450 so I expected a larger screen. Will certainly watch a movie there and possibly also one in XPlus although I may save doing the latter in Showcase Cinema de Luxe, Southampton instead.
Thanks again for sharing some interesting info, I must say I do very much enjoy reading your posts. ;o)
Added this to my list of cinemas to visit. I seem to recall watching one movie at this cinema in one of the small auditoria in the mid to late 90’s. Was shopping in Bluewater, hadn’t planned on watching a movie and had already seen the major new releases elsewhere. IIRC the seats seemed comfy (blue velour?) but that’s about all that I came away thinking at the time.
Does anyone know the size of the IMAX screen (screen 4)? Seems an unsual decision to have both an IMAX screen and a XPlus screen (Showcase’s own proprietary large format) in the same cinema as they are two competing large screen formats.
Presumably, the new screens are auditoria 13 to 17 and use Barco laser projection (which is used at Showcase Cinema de Luxe, Southampton)? Their website just lists Sony 4K projection.
Spent some time clicking through almost all of the current movies being shown to get an idea of the auditoria sizes and most seem pretty decent, certainly for a 17-screen multiplex. Screen 4 (IMAX) seems the largest with of 15 rows x 31 seats. Screen 3 has 16 rows x 28 seats. Screen 15 (XPlus) has 11 rows x 29 seats. The smallest screen seems to be screen 7 which is 10 rows x 11 seats followed by screens 13 & 14 which are Event screens I believe where they show opera performances etc.
Signed up to Showcase Insider which is free and entitles you to discounted tickets on Sunday after 7pm and all day Monday and Tuesday. Also, you earn 10% back in rewards on ticket and food/drink purchases. They also accept Meerkat Movies 2-4-1 on Tuesdays/Wednesdays. Regular ticket prices seem reasonable (cheap compared to the West End, London!).
Don’t often head out towards Dartford but this cinema seems like it warrants a special trip!
Seen as Dolby have recently made the announcement of opening seven Dolby Cinema sites in the UK in collaboration with Odeon cinemas why not also confirm if indeed Odeon, Leicester Square is to be the first such Dolby Cinema?
Surely it would create even more of a buzz rather than if it is kept under wraps until any announcements regarding the re-opening of OLS take place?
@CF100
I even posted on the Showcase de Luxe Southampton page a few days ago whilst doing some quick research in laser projection in UK cinemas.
Need to visit that cinema plus Odeon, Bournemouth (BH2).
Can you please post a link to Showcase Westquay as I can’t seem to find it using the search box?
Thanks.
Dolby Cinema posted the same news on their twitter feed a couple of days ago. https://twitter.com/DolbyCinema
It’s true – Dolby Cinema is coming to the UK and Germany! Learn more about our partnership with @ODEONCinemas and #Kinopolis here ➡️ http://bit.ly/2HMIEAr
Nice diagram.
I too thought the entrance would probably originate at the rear of the auditoria instead of either the left or right-hand side of the screen as often is the case in multiplexes I visit.
Odeon, Bournemouth (BH2) has been listed in my smartphone notes, that I’ve been compiling for a while, as a cinema I would like to visit at some point since reading about the opening of the BH2 Leisure Complex.
@CF100
I’m grateful for all of the detailed knowledge that you share on this site, greatly appreciated. ;o)
Don’t ask me why, but I’ve never read any cinema technology magazines which is even harder to believe considering how many movies I’ve watched at the cinema (at a guess, easily 1000+!) and home cinema magazines that I’ve read over the years.
This is quite a detailed article about the first Dolby Cinema:
https://www.techradar.com/news/video/dolby-just-opened-the-most-advanced-cinema-in-the-world-1299524
A number of different sources have all been covering the same news regarding Dolby Cinema in the UK over the past few days.
This article offers a little extra detail regarding new equipment will be installed:
“Additionally, Odeon Cinemas Group has confirmed that Dolby servers, processors, and speakers will be utilized for all of its European entities going forward.”
http://investor.dolby.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dolby-announces-european-cinema-market-expansion-cineeurope-2018
https://www.homecinemachoice.com/news/article/dolby-cinema-gets-go-ahead-in-the-uk/26410
And as you already mentioned @CF100…“There’s no word yet on where the seven locations might be. But the Odeon Leicester Square would seem like an obvious candidate.”
https://www.dolby.com/us/en/platforms/dolby-cinema.html
That’s possibly the best/biggest cinema news I’ve heard since IMAX with Laser was installed at Empire (now Cineworld), Leicester Square.
Thanks for the link. ;)
One thing I have noticed from all of the online videos I’ve seen of Dolby Cinema auditoria is that they have a really long walk from the screen entrance until you get all the way inside. Almost like a little maze. With the exception of a couple of flagship cinemas (Leicester Square), most multiplexes in the UK have the entrances to auditoria fairly close to one another plus there’s usually a shortish walk (in a straight line as opposed to weaving this way and that). Dolby has five Christie 2K short-throw projectors projecting video images on a 12m digital entry display (floor to ceiling) which customers walk past on their way in.
As seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKp_HKJA4hE
This wouldn’t pose a problem on any newly built cinemas but may require a re-shuffle to existing sites?
What changes, if any, have Vue made to the auditoria since taking over from Warner Village Cinemas at this location? Has the projector(s) used, sound system and speakers all be changed/upgraded?
Which row would you recommend when watching a movie in screen 5 or 7, both from an optimum viewing position and audio sweet spot. I’ve yet to watch a movie at Vue, West End but plan to change that at some point soon.
The Vue trailer that you linked to is one of two that have been shown each time that I have visited one of their cinemas over the past few years. Often the sound during this trailer demonstrates the surrounds and LFE far better than during most/all of the movie!
That was quite a detailed account of your visit, the only thing missing from making it a mystery customer report would have been commenting on the purchase of your ticket and food/drink including whom you were served by and how courteous etc they were!
How full was the performance of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom that you watched? AFAIK reference levels are usually saved for peak times when the auditorium is full or near to full. Certainly, off-peak performances when auditoria are often almost empty are played at lower volume levels.
Back in the 90’s the cinema that I visited the most (UCI Wycombe 6, now Empire Cinemas 8-screen) had red curtains installed in all six auditoria. Screens 1 to 4, the curtain would rise and in the two smallest screen (5 & 6) they would open from the centre outwards. All screens were scope and they had black masking on the left and right sides of the screen which would retract whenever scope movies were shown.
Nowadays this seems to have become less and less the norm. Most of the auditoria that I visit do not have curtains or masking. In addition to looking more professional in terms of presentation, would I be correct in saying that the movable masking provides not only a cleaner edge to the projected image but it may also enhance the perceived contrast as it is a true black, unlike the very dark grey that is seen by most non-laser projection systems?
Thanks @CF100 for that info.
Why are cinemas in the UK lagging behind with new technology available elsewhere in Europe and the U.S.? Dolby Vision and Auro 11.1 being just two examples.
The first cinema in the UK to have (Barco) laser projection and Dolby Atmos as standard in all screens. Also customisable electric recliners in every screen plus a XPlus screen.
https://www.west-quay.co.uk/cinema
I need to check out this cinema…
Was just on the Barco website trying to find out if there are any Auro 11.1 equipped auditoriums in the UK and it listed six, one of which was Empire Cinema, Ipswich. Although the auditorium information page only mentions Barco Laser Projectors and nothing about Auro 11.1 surround sound.
http://www.empirecinemas.co.uk/cinema_info/empire_ipswich/barco_laser_projection/c262/t44
Ireland has a number of cinemas equipped with Auro 11.1, does anyone know if any exist in the UK?
https://www.avinteractive.com/news/audio/omniplex-opens-first-cinema-fitted-auro-11-1-barco-immersive-sound-technology-hfr-3d-projection-25-02-2014/
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.
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.
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.