My first visit here since its refurb, and my first experience of 4DX.
Foyer is quite dazzling with its shiny floor and myriad of LED displays, and after I left my film it was really bustling with people including the large Starbucks on the ground floor. The upper floor with its strangely hidden away and soulless bar and access to the old VIP box seating has been closed off.
4DX effects were good fun and certainly suit certain films (Geostorm would have been unbearable awful without them). The screen in this auditorium is large, curved and wall to wall. Picture and 3D was fine during the trailers however once the film started and the screen zoomed to scope, focus was soft, contrast was poor and there was a fair bit of ghosting. Also the very top corners of the screen had a shadow cast on them by the 4DX equipment trusses. Sound was good enough – dialogue from the centre channel sounded harsh during adverts but seemed to improve once the film started.
An attendant sits in the screen throughout the screening, seemingly for safety purposes only.
Customers in the cinema are unsurprisingly confused about the mishmash of signage and branding, particularly with the Impact screen being referred to by Cineworld as Superscreen in marketing, e-tickets and on some temporary signage, and Screen 1 on printed tickets (just yesterday I had to redirect a pair of people who somehow became lost in the corridor to the Superscreen even though it’s the only thing it leads to!).
The next cheapest West End first run ticket I’m aware of is Vue Piccadilly when using their Super Mondays promo, at £4.99 (requires you to get a code from their website first).
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.
Pleased to report the masking in Screen 5 is working!
4DX is screen 9 – on the plans it’s the one where all the seats are clustered in fours.
My first visit here since its refurb, and my first experience of 4DX.
Foyer is quite dazzling with its shiny floor and myriad of LED displays, and after I left my film it was really bustling with people including the large Starbucks on the ground floor. The upper floor with its strangely hidden away and soulless bar and access to the old VIP box seating has been closed off.
4DX effects were good fun and certainly suit certain films (Geostorm would have been unbearable awful without them). The screen in this auditorium is large, curved and wall to wall. Picture and 3D was fine during the trailers however once the film started and the screen zoomed to scope, focus was soft, contrast was poor and there was a fair bit of ghosting. Also the very top corners of the screen had a shadow cast on them by the 4DX equipment trusses. Sound was good enough – dialogue from the centre channel sounded harsh during adverts but seemed to improve once the film started.
An attendant sits in the screen throughout the screening, seemingly for safety purposes only.
Customers in the cinema are unsurprisingly confused about the mishmash of signage and branding, particularly with the Impact screen being referred to by Cineworld as Superscreen in marketing, e-tickets and on some temporary signage, and Screen 1 on printed tickets (just yesterday I had to redirect a pair of people who somehow became lost in the corridor to the Superscreen even though it’s the only thing it leads to!).
The next cheapest West End first run ticket I’m aware of is Vue Piccadilly when using their Super Mondays promo, at £4.99 (requires you to get a code from their website first).
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.