(I am not sure what location this is, as the text overlay on the image ‘slideshow’ says that it’s at the ‘Resort World at the NEC Birmingham,’ but the filename says ‘Milton Keynes.’)
The interior design of this and other sites seems to be constructed from the ‘parts bin’ of Cineworld’s current ‘house style.’ Note that the linked image is on the website of Lyons + Sleeman + Hoare Architects, and it turns out that Cineworld have their own in-house architects also.
Cineworld’s ‘next generation’ foyer/corridors are looking good. If only their auditorium designs were more interesting than, say, a black box with an illuminated red star logo on each side wall!
Zappomatic: Odd indeed, maybe they are getting in there via the ductwork? I hope they offered refunds, or at least a goodwill gesture, to customers attending ridiculous ‘trapped fly’ screenings!
IIRC operators have had to come up with their own ‘ad hoc’ solutions for projection cabinets in ‘boothless’ auditoria, but off the shelf products are now becoming available.
The seats in the IMAX and IMPACT/Superscreen are from Seating Concepts. I have to wonder if the seating business has entered a race to the bottom using commodity parts sourced from China. Products from different manufacturers look very similar but don’t appear to be of real commerical ‘heavy duty’ spec.
Thanks (as well) Lionel for those photos, I have fond memories of those days!
Indeed there is nothing like the 80s! The fibre-optic ‘starfields’ were a wonderful addition, though not all the changes to the foyer were in good taste…
Zappomatic: They will sort out the seats; I didn’t explicitly ask about the timeframe or press for more details, but I got the impression that they plan on a full refurb of all auditoria. Not making ‘band-aid’ changes to seating upholstery may suggest that it will all be changing.
The Cineworld interim report shows that they have phased overhauls of all sites acquired from Empire, so at this point it could be next year, I’d guess?
The seats in the IMAX auditorium aren’t as comfortable as they were when new; the padding seems to have sagged a bit. I’m not sure their quality is better than my own ‘premium’ (but not ‘uber-expensive’) office chair—super comfortable when new but merely comfortable enough after a while!
Flies in the projection enclosures?! Silhouettes on the screen?
I have uploaded a few photos of the foyer taken today.
In particular, this one shows the dire state of the ceiling, with the further stains, and peeling/missing covering, possibly revealing the original 1962 finish (paint?):
Whilst that photo has not been post-processed in Photoshop, the others have; as I note in the description of that photo, the ceiling really does look that faded and stained. My other photos are, to a lesser or greater extent, not honest about the ceiling’s condition.
I expected leaving the Empire today to be a sad experience, but the foyer is in such messy, tatty and rapidly deteriorating state, not just the ceiling but also the disjointed collection of permanent and temporary fixtures and changes made over the years, that the shock of it being replaced has worn off. It is very jarring walking from the crumbling foyer into the still-new looking IMAX auditorium.
It needs redoing, so fingers crossed for a replacement that exceeds expectations!
I visited the “Cineworld Cinema – at the Empire Theatre” today to see “Dunkirk” in the IMAX auditorium.
I had a conversation with a member of staff who has worked there from UCI, through Empire Cinemas, and now Cineworld operation. They informed me that:
-The 4DX conversion is progressing. Strip-out of Screen 2 has already been completed. They are not sure, but they think that the 4DX conversion will result in the loss of one or more rows of seats to fit in the equipment; it will have fewer seats.
-They confirmed that the foyer “domes” will be lost, and said that whilst they understood the foyer has been around for a long time, it is dated and looking “patchy.” They expressed a positive view on the proposed design and were pleased about the forthcoming refurbishment.
-Asked if changes would be made to other areas, i.e. the rest of the auditoria and in particular the seating, they said that this would not be happening yet as the priority is the 4DX conversion and the foyer refurbishment.
-In response to my concerns over the prospect of it becoming “'a Cineworld multiplex…' it is, after all, the Empire Leicester Square,” they said that “that is the one thing [Cineworld] most definitely do NOT want… they want to keep it… glitzy.”
The IMAX auditorium is looking well cared for, excellent air conditioning, projection was perfect and the sound very good—visceral subbass at times. I have thought that the sound system doesn’t quite have the headroom to cope with the large auditorium and that was evident today; e.g. it sounded like the low frequency content was pushing the drivers to maximum excursion at times.
The IMAX trailer is a variant of this one, but altered to demonstrate the overhead/side speakers with a 3D visualisation of speakers placed around an auditorium, when the voiceover says “and immersive sound, that will surround you from here… here… and here.”
As for “Dunkirk,” it seemed to me to skip over Acts 1 and 2 and launched straight into Act 3 resulting an incomprehensible mess. Lovely photography and, as mentioned, impressive sound.
The 1.4:1 IMAX segments did not seem to quite reach the top of the screen but I assume were <1.9:1 as the screen is 1.7:1 and the laser projectors are capable of 1.4:1.
The odd scratch mark and other tale-tell signs could be seen uncorrected, so I assume Nolan didn’t allow IMAX to put the material through a heavy-handed DMR process. I shall leave an analogue vs. digital discussion at that, but it should be obvious which side of the fence I firmly sit on!
That’s actually the front left fire exit from the IMAX auditorium—which incidentally is in the same location as the wall between the IMAX and the IMPACT/Superscreen auditoria.
BTW, if you go to the “old” Street View images (by clicking on the clock icon in the top left hand corner) and change the date to May 2014, you can see it’s been left open as the IMAX was being finished.
Having a quick look at the licensing application plans, it seems access to Screen 6 involves going down the stairs of one fire exit, and, when near the external doors, going through another door to the second fire exit, and then up the stairs to the auditorium! Ridiculous…
I’d guess, then, that the lack of replacement finishes and the use of non-permanent signage, i.e. bits of paper (!), one way or the other has something to do with building regulations or (avoiding) building control approval, albeit there are plenty of Class 0 fire retardant materials to choose from…
I haven’t been to Screen 2 since the mid-90s—and that was only because, until I bought the ticket, I’d not realised the film I wanted to see had moved over from Screen 1! An awful auditorium.
It is curious that, if the floor can be lowered, that it hasn’t been done to date? It will be interesting to see just how much they are able to lower it by.
I, too, think that the stairs up to screens 7/8/9 are nicely decorated. I have not been to screen 6 and I’m surprised that the staircase is as you describe? I suspect the “urine” whiff actually emanates from the toilets!
It’s understandable that Cineworld want to rebrand and to my mind the stair/lobby areas for public auditorium access from the main foyer are a blank slate for them. I do not believe that because something was there first it automatically acquires some sort of mystical primacy, but I think it’s worth noting that the “domes” in the 1962 foyer seem to me to be a nod to the original 1927 interior.
I am concerned that without due care they will end up with the Empire looking like a run-of-the-mill multiplex with no attention paid to its “DNA.” They are, after all, going to be removing marble from the right vestibule wall… replacement finishes had better be up to standard!
Building Control entry (dated as received on 17th August 2017) for the Foyer and 4DX works is up on Westminster Council’s website.
To quote:
“Refurbishment of the public areas of the lobbies and cinema #2 located in the basement of Cineworld at Leicester Sq (previously Empire) for the conversion into a 4DX cinema.
“The refurbishment of the lobbies will include: – Demolition of existing floors, ceiling and wall finishes at ground floor lobby and public access to upper levels.
“The works will include: Breaking of the lower level concrete slab of the room and rebuild at a lower level to increase the space required for the system and new seating arrangement. Installation of suspended trusses between the columns which will support the equipment for the 4D effects (wind fans, water spray tanks, snow machine, fog machine) – Removal of all projector and installation of new one at the back of the room, in the former projection booth. – New floor, wall and ceiling finishes – New finishes at the access staircase and lobby. – All fire escapes remain unchanged”
So there you have it—how to convert Screen 2 to 4DX!
I can never work out why the section with the sloped ceiling (presumably due to the stadium seating structure above) is “curtained off” in these old (pre late 1980s refurb) photos…
LSQ is listed as “Refurbishment starting” (p17 – PDF page number) although according to an article in The Telegraph , “[LSQ] will get a makeover at the end of the year.”
I’ve just spent the last hour being very angry and grumbling to myself about Cineworld not “getting” the Empire LS (as a flagship venue with decades of heritage) and simply wanting to engage in a rebranding exercise for the sake of it.
OTOH, actually it’s a pretty bold piece of reimaging. I’m assuming expensive finishes and I guess the ceiling, in a way, is a nod to the existing one. Lots of concealed lighting and coving too.
Would be nice to see what they have in mind for the main section though. They had better put in some decent seating!
I assume they won’t be moving concessions to the stop of the stairs as queues would block the route to the IMPACT and 7/8/9 screens, and they still have the “curved” section with a poster (or maybe LED display?)
Talking of which, it looks like there are small LED displays above each auditorium entrance.
Reading through the presentation, Cineworld discuss their multiple “premium screens” approach so the addition of 4DX in Screen 2 and not the IMPACT screen makes sense.
A previous presentation (p29 – PDF page number) says “4DX and Super Screen expected to be installed in Leicester Square” so I wonder if any changes will be made to the IMPACT screen? To keep it at the currently available state of the art they need to install laser projection, which has very good black levels thus obviating the need for masking.
Update to previous post: The surround speakers appear to be manufactured by SLS Audio, a company acquired by Dolby Labs. a couple of years ago.
All of their products feature ribbon high frequency transducers.
Zappomatic: £10 for popcorn and a drink is better than trying to hide a can of Coke in your trousers and having it “explode” just as you walk past the usher to enter the auditorium—as once happened to me back when it was the Warner West End! ;–)
The large facade-mounted display is a very rare instance of outdoor advertising within the City of Westminster, in a location with extremely high footfall.
“The only commercial advertising screen in London’s Leicester Square, this impressive high definition digital screen is one of the largest in Central London at 63m2."
Elegant or not, I imagine it’s lucrative and very much here to stay!
I rather like the foyer with its “industrial” treatment (although I’m not sure about the finishes—the floor could be vinyl tiles not much better than B&Q or Wickes?!)
Seeing “Square Pie” and the other concessions in context, it doesn’t look so bad.
The configuration is a bit too reminiscent of a mall food court, but hey, a picking up a tasty slice of pizza before the feature sounds good to me!
Hopefully, I may finally have some time this week to check it out… :–( I can’t identify the speaker brand from the photos, so it will be interesting to check out the Dolby Atmos installs…
zappomatic: Never been to the Empire Casino, not having any interest in gambling nor drinking!
There are lots of “360 degree” photos of the Empire Casino on Google Maps—it seems the Icon Bar is accessed from the corridor from the main entrance and is not integrated with the main casino area?
theatreofvarieties: Many thanks for your reply! Most interesting regarding the sintered glass tiles. I assume these were then painted the same colour?
Having tried to research 1960s tiles, I can find no likely products that could have been the original tiles, given that they were apparently “plaster tiles in a mink and gold colour scheme” (from the 1962 Gala Opening Programme.)
I’ve long been puzzled by the “bump profile” tiles in their various patterned arrangements, which seemingly look like they were intended for acoustic control, but are too small to do anything.
Looking at the coefficients for sintered glass tiles, they do seem to be effective at mid/high frequency absorption. I still found the 2006 THX system had dialogue intelligibility issues, although otherwise it was one of the very best sounding systems I’ve heard.
There are some aspects of the 1960s reconstruction that I am curious about. I suspect the “grand foyer” must be higher in level than where the original “tea room” was. It seems that the original circle was shortened also, as including the rows of “loge seats” at the front, the original went past the “kink” in the right wall—approximately, I think, where the dividing wall between IMAX/IMPACT auditoria is. Case study blurb from the contractors and consultants involved mentions weight limitations of the concrete slab floor, so I’m guessing this part of the original circle was removed.
Where is the remaining piece of 1927 wallpaper located behind the right wall? Must be near the first (from the rear) vertical “cove”?
On the coloured lighting—I can see what you mean by “1980s disco”—although I rather like all things 1980s—at least other than bad hairstyles and ripped jeans! Although the “uplighting” at the bottom of the screen could be a different colour?
P.S. I can’t remember if I’ve posted the link before, but there was an article in Light + Sound International magazine on the 1980s Equisse Design refurb (on p19.)
Good to hear that the IMAX screen is doing well, although thanks for the heads up—early screening it will be for me!
I have no idea how any “extension” into the Casino (“Icon” bar) could work, particularly in view of the comment by theatreofvarieties, and Cineworld will surely want to funnel customers via the concessions stand en route to the main auditoria. That really leaves at the top of the entrance stairs.
Better arrangement would be to remove Screen 4…
I am uneasy about changes to the foyer—I will not be happy if the essentials of the 1960s design are lost!
Notably: “Some 2,000 square metres of Glasroc F MULTIBOARD was also used for the interior curved walls, which were designed around a giant curved screen, at 21m high, taller than four double-decker buses.”
Glasroc F is “Non-combustible glass-reinforced gypsum plasterboard”—IOW, high-performance—and expensive—stuff!
theatreofvarieties: Just spotted your IMAX conversion photo uploads; thank you so much for this!
(Not that I “like” seeing the work done to “Screen 1,” as it were; but to me, it’s extremely interesting—e.g. the “ribbed” ceiling steelwork.)
Wonder why the coloured concealed lighting operates monochromatically on “one circuit,” when from your photos it appears that it doesn’t have to? (I complained about this after the first public screening, and was informed that “we can programme the lights to do whatever we want.”)
The tiles seemed to be one set stuck on top of another? A little confused by your photo showing the CIC/UCI paint? Do any remain hidden behind new “false” walls (possibly on the left side of the “stalls”?) or were they all stripped?
Given the Cineworld rendering, this photo ought to give an idea of what the walls of the new foyer might look like:
Cineworld corridor photo
(I am not sure what location this is, as the text overlay on the image ‘slideshow’ says that it’s at the ‘Resort World at the NEC Birmingham,’ but the filename says ‘Milton Keynes.’)
The interior design of this and other sites seems to be constructed from the ‘parts bin’ of Cineworld’s current ‘house style.’ Note that the linked image is on the website of Lyons + Sleeman + Hoare Architects, and it turns out that Cineworld have their own in-house architects also.
Cineworld’s ‘next generation’ foyer/corridors are looking good. If only their auditorium designs were more interesting than, say, a black box with an illuminated red star logo on each side wall!
Zappomatic: Odd indeed, maybe they are getting in there via the ductwork? I hope they offered refunds, or at least a goodwill gesture, to customers attending ridiculous ‘trapped fly’ screenings!
IIRC operators have had to come up with their own ‘ad hoc’ solutions for projection cabinets in ‘boothless’ auditoria, but off the shelf products are now becoming available.
The seats in the IMAX and IMPACT/Superscreen are from Seating Concepts. I have to wonder if the seating business has entered a race to the bottom using commodity parts sourced from China. Products from different manufacturers look very similar but don’t appear to be of real commerical ‘heavy duty’ spec.
The refurbishment is the subject of an article in the September 2017 edition of Cinema Technology Magazine, on p82, currently available at:
http://emag.cinematechnologymagazine.com/#page/82
Unfortunately, the article is not as extensive as one might have expected.
A few details from the article:
-The building work involved up to 90 workers in a single day.
-EOMAC were responsible for some of the fit-out including stretched fabric over acoustic absorption wall coverings.
-All projection and sound systems were installed by Sound Associates.
-Screens 5/7: 2xSony R515 projectors (stacked configuration)/Dolby CP850 Atmos processors/Dolby multi-channel amplifiers/Dolby SLS speakers.
-Other screens: Sony R320 projectors/Dolby CP750 processors.
-Screens 5/6/7/8: Harkness Clarus XC170 screens.
Thanks (as well) Lionel for those photos, I have fond memories of those days!
Indeed there is nothing like the 80s! The fibre-optic ‘starfields’ were a wonderful addition, though not all the changes to the foyer were in good taste…
Zappomatic: They will sort out the seats; I didn’t explicitly ask about the timeframe or press for more details, but I got the impression that they plan on a full refurb of all auditoria. Not making ‘band-aid’ changes to seating upholstery may suggest that it will all be changing.
The Cineworld interim report shows that they have phased overhauls of all sites acquired from Empire, so at this point it could be next year, I’d guess?
The seats in the IMAX auditorium aren’t as comfortable as they were when new; the padding seems to have sagged a bit. I’m not sure their quality is better than my own ‘premium’ (but not ‘uber-expensive’) office chair—super comfortable when new but merely comfortable enough after a while!
Flies in the projection enclosures?! Silhouettes on the screen?
I have uploaded a few photos of the foyer taken today.
In particular, this one shows the dire state of the ceiling, with the further stains, and peeling/missing covering, possibly revealing the original 1962 finish (paint?):
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/912/photos/216889
Whilst that photo has not been post-processed in Photoshop, the others have; as I note in the description of that photo, the ceiling really does look that faded and stained. My other photos are, to a lesser or greater extent, not honest about the ceiling’s condition.
I expected leaving the Empire today to be a sad experience, but the foyer is in such messy, tatty and rapidly deteriorating state, not just the ceiling but also the disjointed collection of permanent and temporary fixtures and changes made over the years, that the shock of it being replaced has worn off. It is very jarring walking from the crumbling foyer into the still-new looking IMAX auditorium.
It needs redoing, so fingers crossed for a replacement that exceeds expectations!
I visited the “Cineworld Cinema – at the Empire Theatre” today to see “Dunkirk” in the IMAX auditorium.
I had a conversation with a member of staff who has worked there from UCI, through Empire Cinemas, and now Cineworld operation. They informed me that:
-The 4DX conversion is progressing. Strip-out of Screen 2 has already been completed. They are not sure, but they think that the 4DX conversion will result in the loss of one or more rows of seats to fit in the equipment; it will have fewer seats.
-They confirmed that the foyer “domes” will be lost, and said that whilst they understood the foyer has been around for a long time, it is dated and looking “patchy.” They expressed a positive view on the proposed design and were pleased about the forthcoming refurbishment.
-Asked if changes would be made to other areas, i.e. the rest of the auditoria and in particular the seating, they said that this would not be happening yet as the priority is the 4DX conversion and the foyer refurbishment.
-In response to my concerns over the prospect of it becoming “'a Cineworld multiplex…' it is, after all, the Empire Leicester Square,” they said that “that is the one thing [Cineworld] most definitely do NOT want… they want to keep it… glitzy.”
The IMAX auditorium is looking well cared for, excellent air conditioning, projection was perfect and the sound very good—visceral subbass at times. I have thought that the sound system doesn’t quite have the headroom to cope with the large auditorium and that was evident today; e.g. it sounded like the low frequency content was pushing the drivers to maximum excursion at times.
The IMAX trailer is a variant of this one, but altered to demonstrate the overhead/side speakers with a 3D visualisation of speakers placed around an auditorium, when the voiceover says “and immersive sound, that will surround you from here… here… and here.”
As for “Dunkirk,” it seemed to me to skip over Acts 1 and 2 and launched straight into Act 3 resulting an incomprehensible mess. Lovely photography and, as mentioned, impressive sound.
The 1.4:1 IMAX segments did not seem to quite reach the top of the screen but I assume were <1.9:1 as the screen is 1.7:1 and the laser projectors are capable of 1.4:1.
The odd scratch mark and other tale-tell signs could be seen uncorrected, so I assume Nolan didn’t allow IMAX to put the material through a heavy-handed DMR process. I shall leave an analogue vs. digital discussion at that, but it should be obvious which side of the fence I firmly sit on!
Report on foyer condition and photos to follow.
P.S. Large Diet Coke was £3.99. :–(
Video of building under construction
Ceremony speech prior to placement of a time capsule
At 4 min 20 sec: “…which will include… an underground cinema complex, adding to the cinematic legacy that the area is so famous for.”
Nice!
That’s actually the front left fire exit from the IMAX auditorium—which incidentally is in the same location as the wall between the IMAX and the IMPACT/Superscreen auditoria.
BTW, if you go to the “old” Street View images (by clicking on the clock icon in the top left hand corner) and change the date to May 2014, you can see it’s been left open as the IMAX was being finished.
The exit you’re looking for is this: http://goo.gl/mYBPSD
Having a quick look at the licensing application plans, it seems access to Screen 6 involves going down the stairs of one fire exit, and, when near the external doors, going through another door to the second fire exit, and then up the stairs to the auditorium! Ridiculous…
I’d guess, then, that the lack of replacement finishes and the use of non-permanent signage, i.e. bits of paper (!), one way or the other has something to do with building regulations or (avoiding) building control approval, albeit there are plenty of Class 0 fire retardant materials to choose from…
Perhaps Cineworld can smarten it up with intumescent flame retardant paint and a few bottles of smell “munching” enzymes!
Al Alvarez: Does that work?!
I haven’t been to Screen 2 since the mid-90s—and that was only because, until I bought the ticket, I’d not realised the film I wanted to see had moved over from Screen 1! An awful auditorium.
It is curious that, if the floor can be lowered, that it hasn’t been done to date? It will be interesting to see just how much they are able to lower it by.
I, too, think that the stairs up to screens 7/8/9 are nicely decorated. I have not been to screen 6 and I’m surprised that the staircase is as you describe? I suspect the “urine” whiff actually emanates from the toilets!
It’s understandable that Cineworld want to rebrand and to my mind the stair/lobby areas for public auditorium access from the main foyer are a blank slate for them. I do not believe that because something was there first it automatically acquires some sort of mystical primacy, but I think it’s worth noting that the “domes” in the 1962 foyer seem to me to be a nod to the original 1927 interior.
I am concerned that without due care they will end up with the Empire looking like a run-of-the-mill multiplex with no attention paid to its “DNA.” They are, after all, going to be removing marble from the right vestibule wall… replacement finishes had better be up to standard!
Chapman Taylor were the architects for the refurbishment including the 4DX auditorium.
Building Control entry (dated as received on 17th August 2017) for the Foyer and 4DX works is up on Westminster Council’s website.
To quote:
“Refurbishment of the public areas of the lobbies and cinema #2 located in the basement of Cineworld at Leicester Sq (previously Empire) for the conversion into a 4DX cinema.
“The refurbishment of the lobbies will include: – Demolition of existing floors, ceiling and wall finishes at ground floor lobby and public access to upper levels.
“The works will include: Breaking of the lower level concrete slab of the room and rebuild at a lower level to increase the space required for the system and new seating arrangement. Installation of suspended trusses between the columns which will support the equipment for the 4D effects (wind fans, water spray tanks, snow machine, fog machine) – Removal of all projector and installation of new one at the back of the room, in the former projection booth. – New floor, wall and ceiling finishes – New finishes at the access staircase and lobby. – All fire escapes remain unchanged”
So there you have it—how to convert Screen 2 to 4DX!
Agent name is listed as Chapman Taylor, a large architectural practice, who it turns out were responsible for the 4DX auditorium at Cineworld Wandsworth, as well as the rest of the Cineworld Wandsworth refurb.
Video of demolition.
Re: 1986 foyer photos — little changed since the 1962 reconstruction, I think, right down to the (very nice) carpet?
I guess the “Empire — The First 100 Years” (to the right of the stairs in https://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/2105035479/in/album-72157603441125079/ is related to the same titled book (by David High.)
I can never work out why the section with the sloped ceiling (presumably due to the stadium seating structure above) is “curtained off” in these old (pre late 1980s refurb) photos…
Zappomatic: Thanks for the info on the foyer rendering. Here’s the link: http://www.cineworldplc.com/~/media/Files/C/Cineworld-PLC/reports-and-presentations/2017-results-presentation-final-for-website.pdf (http://www.cineworldplc.com/~/media/Files/C/Cineworld-PLC/reports-and-presentations/2017-results-presentation-final-for-website.pdf)
LSQ is listed as “Refurbishment starting” (p17 – PDF page number) although according to an article in The Telegraph , “[LSQ] will get a makeover at the end of the year.”
I’ve just spent the last hour being very angry and grumbling to myself about Cineworld not “getting” the Empire LS (as a flagship venue with decades of heritage) and simply wanting to engage in a rebranding exercise for the sake of it.
OTOH, actually it’s a pretty bold piece of reimaging. I’m assuming expensive finishes and I guess the ceiling, in a way, is a nod to the existing one. Lots of concealed lighting and coving too.
Would be nice to see what they have in mind for the main section though. They had better put in some decent seating!
I assume they won’t be moving concessions to the stop of the stairs as queues would block the route to the IMPACT and 7/8/9 screens, and they still have the “curved” section with a poster (or maybe LED display?)
Talking of which, it looks like there are small LED displays above each auditorium entrance.
Reading through the presentation, Cineworld discuss their multiple “premium screens” approach so the addition of 4DX in Screen 2 and not the IMPACT screen makes sense.
A previous presentation (p29 – PDF page number) says “4DX and Super Screen expected to be installed in Leicester Square” so I wonder if any changes will be made to the IMPACT screen? To keep it at the currently available state of the art they need to install laser projection, which has very good black levels thus obviating the need for masking.
Update to previous post: The surround speakers appear to be manufactured by SLS Audio, a company acquired by Dolby Labs. a couple of years ago.
All of their products feature ribbon high frequency transducers.
Zappomatic: £10 for popcorn and a drink is better than trying to hide a can of Coke in your trousers and having it “explode” just as you walk past the usher to enter the auditorium—as once happened to me back when it was the Warner West End! ;–)
According to a news article in the June 2017 issue of Cinema Technology Magazine, VUE will upgrade the cinema based on the VUE West End refurbishment as a “template,” and the IMAX auditorium will be upgraded to laser projection in early 2018.
The large facade-mounted display is a very rare instance of outdoor advertising within the City of Westminster, in a location with extremely high footfall.
From http://www.oceanoutdoor.com/products/digital/the-screen-on-leicester-square/:
“The only commercial advertising screen in London’s Leicester Square, this impressive high definition digital screen is one of the largest in Central London at 63m2."
Elegant or not, I imagine it’s lucrative and very much here to stay!
I rather like the foyer with its “industrial” treatment (although I’m not sure about the finishes—the floor could be vinyl tiles not much better than B&Q or Wickes?!)
Seeing “Square Pie” and the other concessions in context, it doesn’t look so bad.
The configuration is a bit too reminiscent of a mall food court, but hey, a picking up a tasty slice of pizza before the feature sounds good to me!
Hopefully, I may finally have some time this week to check it out… :–( I can’t identify the speaker brand from the photos, so it will be interesting to check out the Dolby Atmos installs…
Zappomatic: The plans for the cinema are on Westminster Council’s site, e.g. http://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/online-applications/licencingDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=KDGKTIRP10100
There is also a building control entry, dated 2010, for “Replacement of two structural beams due to corrosion and delamination.”
One therefore might wonder about the building’s overall condition.
Clearly plenty of scope for refurbishment and reconfiguration although I’m also cynical about its future.
UNICK Architects now have a page on the refurbished VUE West End with a number of photos.
zappomatic: Never been to the Empire Casino, not having any interest in gambling nor drinking!
There are lots of “360 degree” photos of the Empire Casino on Google Maps—it seems the Icon Bar is accessed from the corridor from the main entrance and is not integrated with the main casino area?
theatreofvarieties: Many thanks for your reply! Most interesting regarding the sintered glass tiles. I assume these were then painted the same colour?
Having tried to research 1960s tiles, I can find no likely products that could have been the original tiles, given that they were apparently “plaster tiles in a mink and gold colour scheme” (from the 1962 Gala Opening Programme.)
I’ve long been puzzled by the “bump profile” tiles in their various patterned arrangements, which seemingly look like they were intended for acoustic control, but are too small to do anything.
Looking at the coefficients for sintered glass tiles, they do seem to be effective at mid/high frequency absorption. I still found the 2006 THX system had dialogue intelligibility issues, although otherwise it was one of the very best sounding systems I’ve heard.
There are some aspects of the 1960s reconstruction that I am curious about. I suspect the “grand foyer” must be higher in level than where the original “tea room” was. It seems that the original circle was shortened also, as including the rows of “loge seats” at the front, the original went past the “kink” in the right wall—approximately, I think, where the dividing wall between IMAX/IMPACT auditoria is. Case study blurb from the contractors and consultants involved mentions weight limitations of the concrete slab floor, so I’m guessing this part of the original circle was removed.
Where is the remaining piece of 1927 wallpaper located behind the right wall? Must be near the first (from the rear) vertical “cove”?
On the coloured lighting—I can see what you mean by “1980s disco”—although I rather like all things 1980s—at least other than bad hairstyles and ripped jeans! Although the “uplighting” at the bottom of the screen could be a different colour?
P.S. I can’t remember if I’ve posted the link before, but there was an article in Light + Sound International magazine on the 1980s Equisse Design refurb (on p19.)
Here’s a video of the foyer level in 1996—footage from the Mission Impossible UK Premiere from AP’s archives.
Lots of blue and red neon lighting from the late 1980’s makeover!
The marquee is also shown.
UK Mission Impossible Premiere – Empire Leicester Square
(I have linked to the relevant starting position soas to skip over irrelevant footage including screaming Tom Cruise fans outside the Empire!)
The link in goodshow’s post no longer works; however the video can be viewed at:
http://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-05071965-nottingham-cinema
Good to hear that the IMAX screen is doing well, although thanks for the heads up—early screening it will be for me!
I have no idea how any “extension” into the Casino (“Icon” bar) could work, particularly in view of the comment by theatreofvarieties, and Cineworld will surely want to funnel customers via the concessions stand en route to the main auditoria. That really leaves at the top of the entrance stairs.
Better arrangement would be to remove Screen 4…
I am uneasy about changes to the foyer—I will not be happy if the essentials of the 1960s design are lost!
British Gypsum case study on the BFI IMAX:
http://www.british-gypsum.com/case-studies/sports-and-leisure/bfi-imax-cinema
Notably: “Some 2,000 square metres of Glasroc F MULTIBOARD was also used for the interior curved walls, which were designed around a giant curved screen, at 21m high, taller than four double-decker buses.”
Glasroc F is “Non-combustible glass-reinforced gypsum plasterboard”—IOW, high-performance—and expensive—stuff!
theatreofvarieties: Just spotted your IMAX conversion photo uploads; thank you so much for this!
(Not that I “like” seeing the work done to “Screen 1,” as it were; but to me, it’s extremely interesting—e.g. the “ribbed” ceiling steelwork.)
Wonder why the coloured concealed lighting operates monochromatically on “one circuit,” when from your photos it appears that it doesn’t have to? (I complained about this after the first public screening, and was informed that “we can programme the lights to do whatever we want.”)
The tiles seemed to be one set stuck on top of another? A little confused by your photo showing the CIC/UCI paint? Do any remain hidden behind new “false” walls (possibly on the left side of the “stalls”?) or were they all stripped?