Everyman Barnet

The Odeon Theatre, Barnet opened on 15th May 1935 with Gene Raymond in “Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round” and Laurel & Hardy in “Them Thar' Hills”. It was designed by architect Edgar J. Simmons, who was not a usual designer of Odeon Theatres, as this was originally intended to be a building for County Cinemas circuit and was taken over by Odeon during construction.

Seating was provided for 1,553; 1,010 in the stalls and 543 in the circle.

It was converted into a triple screen cinema from 10th March 1974 with screen 1 in the former circle and screens 2 and 3 in the rear stalls. On 18th December 1989, the Odeon Barnet was given a Grade II Listed building status by English Heritage.

From 18th December 1992 a fourth screen was added in the former front stalls area and ten days later a fifth screen was opened on what had been the former stage area. Current (2008) seating capacities in the screens are; 530, 184, 188, 195 and 155.

It continues to serve this local outer North London suburb of Barnet as a first run cinema. In April 2015 it was announced that the Everyman Cinemas chain was purchasing four Odeon cinemas: Barnet, Muswell Hill, Gerrards Cross and Esher. The Odeon was re-named Everyman in July 2015 and was refurbished in early-May 2016. Seating is now provided for: screen 1-169; screens 2 & 3-51; screen 4-97 and screen 5-61.

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

Ken Roe on October 13, 2005 at 4:56 am

An exterior photograph taken in the early 1970’s of the Odeon, Barnet:
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An exterior view in the early 1980's
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Another view mid-1980's
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New signage in 2002
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Ken Roe on October 13, 2005 at 5:00 am

OOOppps, sorry, here is that early 1970’s view:
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RichieA70 on May 20, 2010 at 1:43 pm

On 17th May 2010, 75 years & 2 days since Barnet Odeon first opened, it celebrated it’s birthday with 2 screenings of Hitchcock’s 1935 ‘The 39 Step’s at the opening night admission price of 2p. Staff were dressed in 1930’s uniforms including tunics, peaked caps and white gloves. The cinema’s manager announced to a packed house in screen 1 that the theatre was Odeon’s oldest cinema. I think they own older buildings, but it could well be the chain’s longest operating cinema.

Moorish styling, art deco features, and loads of octagonal shapes abound in this cinema – Edgar Simmon’s finest. Well worth a visit.

Here’s to another 75 years of movie magic at Barnet Odeon!
Long live Barnet Odeon!

Ian on September 3, 2010 at 2:04 am

Enhanced photo of the Odeon here from 1987:–

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4953788062/

Ian on September 24, 2010 at 4:01 pm

A couple more photos here:–

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/375598575/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/375598573/

orpheum on October 27, 2010 at 7:14 am

I was at the Odeon Barnet yesterday morning.I was on my own in Screen 1.Before the lights went out i was able to see much of the original art deco plasterwork and lights.Well worth a look at if you are in the cinema.

toms2890 on August 10, 2015 at 2:53 am

The ODEON Barnet is no more. It closed in July for a basic refurb/debranding and is now open as the Everyman Barnet. It is currently under an ‘Everything is changing’ decor, meaning that the site deliberately looks under construction until a more extensive refurb is carried out next year.

DavidSimpson on February 19, 2017 at 12:40 am

By January 2017, when I visited to see “Live by Night”, starring Ben Affleck and Elle Fanning, Everyman had carried out their usual sumptuous refurbishment.