Masking also not operational in screens 4 and 9. No idea about 7 and 8, but the bottom masking in 6 worked last time I saw a film in there about a month ago.
Closing on 23 October for refurbishment into ODEON Luxe Haymarket. Very little change externally – panelling under the ODEON lettering to become blue with LUXE lettering on top.
I’m not aware of any plans. Empire’s record with their older acquisitions isn’t brilliant but who knows? Previously UGC had planned to add screens here, and then before Cineworld acquired Picturehouse they had planned for Haymarket to become one of 20 “The Screening Rooms” luxury cinemas. This cinema seems to have been victim of takeovers happening at inopportune times.
It was tripled in 1977, and then had a Virgin refurb in 1997 involving creating a bar in the old circle. 20 years have passed again – what next?
Walked past here today, looked busy due to the BFI London Film Festival (it’s usually deserted). The purple walls in the foyer have been repainted in a cream/magnolia matt paint, with the false columns etc still in their previous yellow and gold. Coupled with the harsh lighting from the now-dilapidated fixture installed by Virgin Cinemas it looks surprisingly stark. Can’t tell if this is a quick fix or the start of something more thorough.
I’m still yet to go to the O2 Superscreen and find out whether the Atmos install fixed the echo issues (I have an Unlimited card and currently there’s no surcharge for Leicester Square’s Superscreen so I’m drawn there!) however I do notice that in early pictures of the O2 Superscreen, the balcony’s back wall, side walls and front are covered in something resembling wooden flooring. This is long since gone/covered over but I wonder who in their right mind thought it was a good idea in the first place?
High prices (especially compared to nearby Dorchester’s Plaza and Odeon cinemas) are being blamed for a decline in the town centre and the closure of the neighbouring bowling alley. http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/yeovil-suffering-because-cineworld-cinema-554663
In preparation for the extension the bar area and the upper foyer are now stripped out and boarded off (photo added), with access to the Superscreen via a new entrance next to the ice cream counter, balcony out of use and screens 6 to 10 through the entrance to screens 1-5.
CF100: Regarding non-Central Seats, on this occasion I was with a friend with a dodgy knee who needed the aisle to stretch into. The reclining seats don’t have anywhere to recline into (except for the knees of the person behind!) so that could have been pretty unpleasant. I do sometimes prefer an aisle seat myself but don’t book them in the small screens here due to the sound issues.
The trouble with screen 7 (and some of the other wide but shallow auditoriums) is that with the way the audio is set up and balanced, if you’re not sitting in the middle you end up so close to one of the left or right front channels that it almost drowns out the centre dialogue channel.
Screen 6 still does have bottom masking. It’s a slightly claustrophobic auditorium.
I can’t say I’ve found the Superscreen to particularly suffer from its lack of masking as there’s a good level of contrast and sharpness from the current projectors. Conversely the masking isn’t working in some of the smaller screens and they definitely do suffer for it.
Hadn’t noticed Empire Cinemas still have their head office listed as being Leicester Square. Wonder if it’s really just a front for a PO box? Otherwise it’s slightly embarrassing, a bit like still living with your ex after you’ve split up… Although, Empire’s structure looks like a rather questionable house of cards with each cinema registered as a separate company in Jersey. Company names take the form of (Location) Cinema 2 Ltd eg. Walthamstow Cinema 2 Ltd. Tax efficient, some might say.
According to a press release the 50,000 square feet extension (along with an indoor trampoline park of the same size) breaks ground later this month.
Cineworld O2’s Facebook page says the Superscreen reopens this Thursday, but no indication of what’s changed however the balcony won’t be available immediately.
Planning application (ref 17/03758/FULL1) submitted to remodel and extend as Bromley Picturehouse including a roof extension to the front with a new screen, and the former Odeon call centre at the rear converted to a cafe/bar with 84 covers with another screen sitting on top. Screens 2 and 3 will received curved, stepped seating and larger screens, and screen 1 will have new wooden stepping built over the existing concrete to increase legroom.
According to the heritage statement it seems the interior and exterior will be substantially restored to more closely resemble the original design:
“The exisiting building is Locally Listed and, the frontage in particular, in a substantial state of disrepair. The proposed development will maintain and restore the prominent features of the High Street elevation, refurbishing the existing faience frontage, reinstating the original rounded wings to the facade, replacing the existing front doors, and replacing the existing canopy with a slimmer, outward curving canopy as per the original design.
Additionally, the application proposes the restoration of prominent architectural features internally, including distinctive ceiling and wall features throughout the foyers and main auditoria."
Yep, flies! The smaller studio type screens all have their projector in a little box slung from the ceiling at the back, and on at least three occasions I’ve experienced a fly trapped inside casting a blurry shadow on the screen every time it flew around. Going by complaints on social media it’s a recurring issue, particularly in screen 8 for some reason.
Sagging padding aside I still prefer the seats Empire installed in the IMAX and Impact/Superscreen here over the Lino Sonego seats Cineworld are putting in their large format screens – they look the part but aren’t especially comfortable.
Thank you CF100 and Lionel for those photos, great to compare the old and the current. They certainly went with a blingy, in your face look back in the late 80s!
Wonder how long the Empire and Pepsi Max logos will linger on on the seats in IMAX and Superscreen, if Cineworld aren’t touching the other auditoriums just yet?
The smaller auditoriums are generally in good shape, they just need to fix the masking in a couple of them and replace or deep clean the carpet (possibly change the carpet in the rows to a hard surface). And maybe sort out the issue they keep having with flies getting trapped inside the projector enclosures!
Ah I stand corrected! But yes your description of the access to screen 6 is correct and involves making a bit of a sharp turn, as well as confidence that you really are taking a door from the foyer to a screen and won’t suddenly find yourself standing in a yellow puddle in the street.
Masking also not operational in screens 4 and 9. No idea about 7 and 8, but the bottom masking in 6 worked last time I saw a film in there about a month ago.
Now closed for refurbishment, reopening December.
Stage performance of Brief Encounter returns from March 2018 https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Emma-Rice-to-Bring-BRIEF-ENCOUNTER-to-UK-20171019
Closing on 23 October for refurbishment into ODEON Luxe Haymarket. Very little change externally – panelling under the ODEON lettering to become blue with LUXE lettering on top.
Ticket prices reduced to £2.90 (Superscreen £3.90m 4DX £7.90). Price war with Vue?
I’m not aware of any plans. Empire’s record with their older acquisitions isn’t brilliant but who knows? Previously UGC had planned to add screens here, and then before Cineworld acquired Picturehouse they had planned for Haymarket to become one of 20 “The Screening Rooms” luxury cinemas. This cinema seems to have been victim of takeovers happening at inopportune times.
It was tripled in 1977, and then had a Virgin refurb in 1997 involving creating a bar in the old circle. 20 years have passed again – what next?
Ah this is just plans of the cinema for their alcohol licence. They’re actually from the 1997 Virgin Cinemas refurb!
PhilipWW: I can’t find any planning applications. Do you have the reference number?
The Plaza is doing a roaring trade, often selling out screens to loyal customers from Dorchester and the surrounding towns.
Now doing £4.95 tickets on Tuesdays – cheapest cinema in the West End?
Walked past here today, looked busy due to the BFI London Film Festival (it’s usually deserted). The purple walls in the foyer have been repainted in a cream/magnolia matt paint, with the false columns etc still in their previous yellow and gold. Coupled with the harsh lighting from the now-dilapidated fixture installed by Virgin Cinemas it looks surprisingly stark. Can’t tell if this is a quick fix or the start of something more thorough.
I’m still yet to go to the O2 Superscreen and find out whether the Atmos install fixed the echo issues (I have an Unlimited card and currently there’s no surcharge for Leicester Square’s Superscreen so I’m drawn there!) however I do notice that in early pictures of the O2 Superscreen, the balcony’s back wall, side walls and front are covered in something resembling wooden flooring. This is long since gone/covered over but I wonder who in their right mind thought it was a good idea in the first place?
High prices (especially compared to nearby Dorchester’s Plaza and Odeon cinemas) are being blamed for a decline in the town centre and the closure of the neighbouring bowling alley. http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/yeovil-suffering-because-cineworld-cinema-554663
Ah looks like I missed out the fact I was referring to its nearest Cineworld neighbour, West India Quay.
In preparation for the extension the bar area and the upper foyer are now stripped out and boarded off (photo added), with access to the Superscreen via a new entrance next to the ice cream counter, balcony out of use and screens 6 to 10 through the entrance to screens 1-5.
CF100: Regarding non-Central Seats, on this occasion I was with a friend with a dodgy knee who needed the aisle to stretch into. The reclining seats don’t have anywhere to recline into (except for the knees of the person behind!) so that could have been pretty unpleasant. I do sometimes prefer an aisle seat myself but don’t book them in the small screens here due to the sound issues.
The trouble with screen 7 (and some of the other wide but shallow auditoriums) is that with the way the audio is set up and balanced, if you’re not sitting in the middle you end up so close to one of the left or right front channels that it almost drowns out the centre dialogue channel.
Screen 6 still does have bottom masking. It’s a slightly claustrophobic auditorium.
I can’t say I’ve found the Superscreen to particularly suffer from its lack of masking as there’s a good level of contrast and sharpness from the current projectors. Conversely the masking isn’t working in some of the smaller screens and they definitely do suffer for it.
The cinema has confirmed via Facebook that the Superscreen now has Dolby Atmos.
Hadn’t noticed Empire Cinemas still have their head office listed as being Leicester Square. Wonder if it’s really just a front for a PO box? Otherwise it’s slightly embarrassing, a bit like still living with your ex after you’ve split up… Although, Empire’s structure looks like a rather questionable house of cards with each cinema registered as a separate company in Jersey. Company names take the form of (Location) Cinema 2 Ltd eg. Walthamstow Cinema 2 Ltd. Tax efficient, some might say.
According to a press release the 50,000 square feet extension (along with an indoor trampoline park of the same size) breaks ground later this month.
Cineworld O2’s Facebook page says the Superscreen reopens this Thursday, but no indication of what’s changed however the balcony won’t be available immediately.
moviebuff82: No. Not sure what the busiest in Europe is but in the UK the highest grossing cinema is Vue Westfield London.
Planning application (ref 17/03758/FULL1) submitted to remodel and extend as Bromley Picturehouse including a roof extension to the front with a new screen, and the former Odeon call centre at the rear converted to a cafe/bar with 84 covers with another screen sitting on top. Screens 2 and 3 will received curved, stepped seating and larger screens, and screen 1 will have new wooden stepping built over the existing concrete to increase legroom.
According to the heritage statement it seems the interior and exterior will be substantially restored to more closely resemble the original design:
“The exisiting building is Locally Listed and, the frontage in particular, in a substantial state of disrepair. The proposed development will maintain and restore the prominent features of the High Street elevation, refurbishing the existing faience frontage, reinstating the original rounded wings to the facade, replacing the existing front doors, and replacing the existing canopy with a slimmer, outward curving canopy as per the original design.
Additionally, the application proposes the restoration of prominent architectural features internally, including distinctive ceiling and wall features throughout the foyers and main auditoria."
New seating capacities: Screen 1: 324 seats + 4 wheelchair Screen 2: 92 seats + 1 wheelchair Screen 3: 80 seats + 1 wheelchair Screen 4: 263 seats Screen 5 (above cafe): 87 seats + 1 disabled Screen 6 (above entrance): 70 seats
Plans are by Earle Architects.
Yep, flies! The smaller studio type screens all have their projector in a little box slung from the ceiling at the back, and on at least three occasions I’ve experienced a fly trapped inside casting a blurry shadow on the screen every time it flew around. Going by complaints on social media it’s a recurring issue, particularly in screen 8 for some reason.
Sagging padding aside I still prefer the seats Empire installed in the IMAX and Impact/Superscreen here over the Lino Sonego seats Cineworld are putting in their large format screens – they look the part but aren’t especially comfortable.
Thank you CF100 and Lionel for those photos, great to compare the old and the current. They certainly went with a blingy, in your face look back in the late 80s!
Wonder how long the Empire and Pepsi Max logos will linger on on the seats in IMAX and Superscreen, if Cineworld aren’t touching the other auditoriums just yet?
The smaller auditoriums are generally in good shape, they just need to fix the masking in a couple of them and replace or deep clean the carpet (possibly change the carpet in the rows to a hard surface). And maybe sort out the issue they keep having with flies getting trapped inside the projector enclosures!
Ah I stand corrected! But yes your description of the access to screen 6 is correct and involves making a bit of a sharp turn, as well as confidence that you really are taking a door from the foyer to a screen and won’t suddenly find yourself standing in a yellow puddle in the street.