Odeon Taunton

Taunton, Somerset, England

Heron Gate, Riverside

, Taunton, Somerset, England, United Kingdom TA1 2LP

(map)

+44.0.871.22.44.007

Status:	Open
Screens:	Multiplex (8 Screen)
Style:	Art Deco

Function:	Movies (First Run)
Seats:	1592
Chain:	Odeon Theatres

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Unknown

The latest Odeon Taunton opened on 4th August 1994, one of the first Odeon multiplexes to be built during the Rank Organisation era. It's opening signalled the closure of the two-screen Plaza (ex-1930's Odeon) in the town centre.

The cinema was designed in the style of the classic 1930's Odeon, Art Deco style cinemas. The cream fascias, curved corners and striking 20m high tower all add to the Art Deco effect.

Built with only five screens (it was initially meant to be seven, and on a different patch of land to where it ended up being), the Odeon became very popular, very quickly, with a turnover of almost 500,000 admissions per year. In 1997 Odeon applied to extend the cinema to eight screens, and the application was finally approved in 2004. Happily, the extension retains the style of the building, although unfortunately the quest for bigger screen sheets has meant screen tabs have now been removed.

Related Websites

Odeon Theatres UK (Official)

Contributed by Dan Harris

YOUR COMMENTS

Have they extended the cinema yet...Saw a few films there in a spate a few years ago FaceOff Little Voice Boogie Nights and nothing for a while...a serviceable multiplex which could be bigger in a community which deserves slightly bigger and better

posted by SethLewis on Sep 26, 2005 at 8:08pm

Yes, the cinema has finally been extended after many years of refused planning applications. The program included adding a further three screens to the north western elevation, new customer toilets and staff areas, and extending and remodelling the foyer. The three new auditoria are all of stadia design and seat 86, 153 and 215. A few compromises had to be made - screen 4 lost around 30 seats to create access to the new auditoria, and we lost around 30 car park spaces, although as yet this hasn't been a problem. The existing five screens were all refurbished back in 2001 to include better acoustic wall panelling, and the screen surfaces were all enlarged recently.

posted by Dan Harris on Sep 26, 2005 at 10:27pm

Opened originally as a 5-screen Odeon on 4th August 1994 with a seating capacity of 998. The extension with 3 additional screens opened in March 2005.

posted by KenRoe on Dec 15, 2006 at 6:21am

Three photographs of the Odeon Taunton:
1. Photo by Dan Harris taken soon after opening in 1994:
http://www.mawgrim.sathosting.net/projection/taunton1.jpg
2. Night view
http://www.mawgrim.sathosting.net/projection/taunton2.jpg
3. Close-up of tower
http://www.mawgrim.sathosting.net.projection/tau_towernight1944.jpg

posted by KenRoe on Dec 17, 2006 at 10:06am

Sorry...here is the above link 3 again:
http://www.mawgrim.sathosting.net/projection/tau_towernight1994.jpg

posted by KenRoe on Dec 17, 2006 at 10:09am

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