Odeon Leicester Square

The largest single screen cinema still operating in London.It has recently been sympathetically refurbished both internally and externally.Many art deco features which were swept away in the 1960s have now been restored.

Yes David, The Rest I have in my Personal Collection.

THE FLAGSHIP OF THE ODEON CHAIN. EVEN AFTER THIS RECENT REBRANDING IT STILL REMAINS A STRIKING CINEMA TODAY.ODEON SHOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE THIS FAMOUS CINEMA STILL ENTERTAINING PEOPLE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. I LOOK FORWARD TO MY NEXT VISIT!.

DEREK ATKINS(PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER MERCIA CINEMA SOCIETY).

Although my main focus are legit theatres with live performance, a theatre is a theatre is a ... since so many have been both legit and movie palaces. New York City has destroyed more theatres than exist now, and this week we learned of another Broadway house set to be torn down. The Henry Miller's Theatre, current home of the Broadway production of "Urinetown." The theatre (and the musical) will close in February '04. However, the facade is protected and will remain and the company, the Durst Corp. is building a new theatre on the site as well as a skyscraper. We need skyscrapers here in NYC. There aren't nearly enough. So we lose one and we get one. Let's just pray they hire a good designer so we don't end up with yet another of those God-awful things totally devoid of style and personality.

Keep up the good work.

Do

This is Europes largest cinema and is an amazing place to see big movies. The cinema has a real buzz about it and there is always a great atmosphere. The actual screen is a little small, but it is great to see one big cinema remaining in the Odeon chain when these days they build multiplexs with lots of screens, but none with actually big screens for the image to be shown on. Some films need to be seen on huge screens. This theatre is also equipped with digital projection and the quality of the films it shows in this format are amazing.

I think the Rex in Paris is larger. Every time Im in London I try to catch a flick at the Odeon. This is how a deluxe theatre should be operated. I wish The Empire would be restored and was programed like the Odeon. Brucec

i was listening two times the wonderfull sound of the compton pipe organ played by D.MacKenzie
resident organist the last time was Easter Monday there were not so many people and they should do more advertisement for these concerts .the second part of the concert was a Charlie Chaplin silent movie with live music of the organ a real must for that movie theatre which is also a theatre of the 2000 years with the digital eqipment.

This theatre is so over-rated, the seats are uncomfortable and the legroom is very poor, the screen is far too small for a theatre of this size and the sound is poor too, the refurbishment has left a very clinical bland modern lobby and circle lounge with all the atmosphere of an airport lounge.
although the empire sc 1 across the square is a bit shabby its a million times better with its stadium style seating, comfy reclining seats and enormous screen, and its glitzy vegas syle lobby decor at least creates some sense of being in a real movie theatre
You cant help wishing though that they both played a more diverse range of films as they are both dominated by long runs of the latest blockbusters.

Hi there,

Is this the Theatre where movie premiers are launched and all the famous celebs attend?

Yes this is the theatre which holds all the major premieres. The Empire use to hold many premieres also.brucec

Is there a site on the web where the premiere times are listed?

I recently went to the opening night gala of the London Film Festival and was pleasantly suprised to see the organ being played.
The audience whooped with delight at this multi-coloured leviathan as it descended into the pit....it is a great shame that Odeon dont have an organ interlude on a regular basis.

Is this the theater where Lawrence of Arabia had its world premiere? Does the interior in any way still have the spectacular art deco decor that was still in place when the film opened?

Not just a 'world premier', in the UK we have the facility to give a film a Royal World Premier, which is what "Lawrence of Arabia" had at the Odeon, Leicester Square on the 10th December 1962. The 70mm print of this film ran for an exclusive 8 weeks engagement at this theatre.

The original art deco interior was swept away in the name of 'progress and modernisation' in 1967. Into the skip went etched glass doors, plaster mouldings on the ceiling above the prosceneum arch and the famous 'flying lady' figures on each side wall of the auditorium, leaving a bland auditorium for many years and an acute embarrassment to the Rank Organisation who ordered the mutilation.

Only recently has this been corrected somewhat and copies of the 'flying lady' figures have been put back, together with some of the concealed lighting in the auditorium ceiling rib bands.

The Odeon is the home of almost all premiers in London nowadays, sometimes there are two a week with all the major stars treading the 'Red Carpet' and greeting thousands of waiting fans. Not all films that premier here go on the play the theatre, they just get their one night premier here.

The original seating capacity when first opened was 2,116 (1,140 in the orchestra stalls and 976 in the circle), now reduced to 1984. Plans are to re-step the circle and re-seat it in 2005 which will further reduce the seating capacity.

The Compton 5 Manual/17 Rank theatre organ (with its multi-coloured illuminated console surround) is still played on special occasions.

The Odeon is fully equipped with the latest projection and sound equipment, which includes 3 main projectors (35mm and 70mm capable), 16mm projector, video projection from vhs tapes and digital dvd projection.

Hello there, I'm from Germany and I'm going to be in London in March. Does anybody know if there are any movie premieres on Leicester Square? I couldn't find any information concerning this on the official Odeon site! Thank you!

Tanja

Hello Tanja;

There seems to be a premier event happening about once a week in Leicester Squar, either at this main Odeon Theatre or occasionally at the Odeon West End Theatre or Empire Theatre. Living here in London we tend to hear about them on the day on local news broadcasts on tv.

Fans tend to gather outside the theatre from around mid-day and wait behind the temporary barriers until the 'stars' start to arrive in the early evening.

I would recommend that you go along to the Odeon and ask one of the front of house staff to enqure about the date of the next premier. Hope you are lucky enough to catch one on your visit to London. Have a great time while you are here.

How does one actually get inside to see the show? Are tickets on sale during these premiers? Just curious.

Mainly invited guests and film industry people attend. They are black tie and best dress events, so the general public are not encouraged to attend (off the street). The premiers are never advertised, the only way of knowing that one is going to happen, is by enquiring at the box office, or looking for signs in the booking schedule where, usually a whole days performances of the regular film playing will be cancelled. Of course an obvious sign is walking through Leicester Square and seeing the barriers up and the red carpet down, with crowds of fans forming as they usually attract the main stars of the movie being premiered and many other celebrities.

While in London last week, I noticed a poster at the Leicester Square advertising advance ticket sales for the upcoming "Star Wars" film. When I saw the price list, I did a double take: 17 pounds per ticket for the top seats (dress circle, I believe). That's more than 35 U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. These prices were considerably higher than the prices for the current attraction, "Constantine."

There were also reports in the press last week that there will be marathon screenings of all of the "Star Wars" films at the Leicester Square (and other Leicester Square theaters) during the week before the opening of "Revenge of the Sith." The posted price list for "Sith" tickets at the Leicester Square was not for the marathon but for the regular run of the film.

The Odeon Leicester Square has been charging premium prices for many years now. I believe I paid £12.00 on my last visit, at current exchange rates that's $23. Movies these days tend to open en-mass in both the West End (ie Leicester Square area) and in the suburbs where the top price is around £7.00 ($13).

It would be great to have the Compton organ at the Odeon Leicester Square playing each performance. Now that would warrant a premium price!

It's £17 for the Royal Circle seats there. That's the top price in the West End, it's about £8-12 for the other cinemas in the area.

That's about $31 a ticket, still its nice to be able to site and watch a movie sitting in the circle (balcony to you in the USA)! I bet they are raking it in with the new Star Wars movie which premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square last night. TV coverage looeked great.

Apparently with Star Wars the distributors are able to claim a lot greater percentage of the ticket price initially so I imagine the money for the Odeon and other cinemas really rests on the popcorn sales. Out of interest is there a bar in the Odeon Leicester Square?

Yes, the Odeon Theatre, Leicester Square has a Licenced Bar selling alcoholic drinks.

Does anybody know if War of the Worlds will open here and, if so, if it will open the same date as it does in the States? I'm going to be in London that week and I'd be great to catch a movie there.

The Odeon Leicester Square incorrectly claims the "largest in Europe" tag - Scarborough's Futurist holds 2155, although a full house for a film is unknown!

The seating capacity of the Odeon Leicester Square has been reduced recently. During late April/early May 2005 the Royal Circle has been closed to allow for the balcony to be re-stepped and re-seated with new stadium style seats. I will try and find out what the current total seating capacity for the main original screen is (stalls and circle).

i saw ep III in the royal circle a few days ago. fantastic legroom, comfy seats and removable armrests ;-) at last - £17 bl**dy well ought to be!!!!

I saw Revenge Of The Sith in the Royal Circle, it was very nice as said above very good legroom and comfy seats. Definitely worth the £17 I shall make an effort from now on to go and see the major films there, although during the day so it's cheaper!

However it was very busy, had to queue for the toilets and the circle bar was packed, more space is needed. Also putting the house lights on during the credits is a big no-no for me, as is cleaning whilst customers are still in the auditorium.

This cinema is the best in London, you just have to see the new Star Wars film there, Revenge of The Sith looks gorgeous in it's Digital Projection and the sound is amazing in Dolby Digital.
Do yourself a favour and immerse yourself in a blockbuster film at this great cinema.

What is the 'miniplex' like? Are the screens the size of a living room like the small ones in Richmond and Panton Street?

The 5 screen Odeon Mezzanine 'miniplex' opened to the public on 20th April 1990. It was constructed in what had been up until then an open passageway that had served as an emergency exit from the adjacent main Odeon Theatre.

It has its own seperate entrance on Leicester Square and Odeon 1 seating 60 is on street level. Up a flight of stairs is Odeon 2 (50 seats) and Odeon 3 (60 seats). Up another flight of stairs above there are Odeon's 4 and 5, each seating 60. The exits to screens 1, 3, 4, 5 are beside the screen, while in screen 2 the exit is placed under the screen. Drapes cover the walls and all screens have Dolby stereo.

The screens at the Odeon Mezzanine are one third the size of what is now called the Odeon Panton Street which averages out at 150 seats per screen. So yes, its like sitting in a living room or screening room. I still prefer to see movies in the main original Odeon, Leicester Square.

Thanks, glad I've avoided the place so far!

I saw Alan J. Pakula's Love and Pain here in April of 1973.

A 2005 photograph of the Odeon Leicester Square and the adjacent Odeon Mezzannine Cinemas here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerroffmyland/12610494/

can you tell me when the legend of zorro premier is or have i missed it?

Odeon has recently taken over UCI Cinemas, which means they now alo own the Empire Leicester Square. Expect the Empire to be renovated, and rebranded next year.

Odeon has to sell the Empire due to competition regulations, however the sign will be changed most likely.

A photograph of the Odeon which I took in July 1964:
http://photobucket.com/albums/y191/KenR-UK/?action=view¤t=OdeonLeicesterSq.jpg

Here's what London's Victoria & Albert Museum say's about the Odeon Leicester Square + a picture:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1157_art_deco/about/buildings/odeon.htm

when and where is 'x men 3 the last stand' premier going to be?

I'd imagine Odeon will get The Da Vinci Code for Odeon Leicester Square, which opens the week before X-Men 3.

I think it will be VUE West End. They usually have the popcorn movie of the week showing.

Does anyone know if there'll be a London premiere for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest? There was one held at the Odeon, Leicester Square back in July 2003 for the first film. I'm planning a trip over to London from Australia, around late June/early July. I'd really love to attend the premiere.

Try the distributor. Pencilled in release date is Thursday 6th July so would imagine a premiere on the previous Sunday in Leicester Square.

Thanx Cjc! I'll contact Walt Disney Pictures and see if they can help. I've heard that the London premiere will most likely be held the same week as the US premiere, precisely the time that you estimated.

Hi! Does anyone know if there's any premieres in London on July 17th-30th? I'm hoping to catch December Boys, but I haven't found a release date yet...

Maybe they'll do one for Cars. www.launchingfilms.com has a UK release schedule.

Oh, thanks cjc! I wouldn't have found it without you!

This website posts upcoming movie premieres in Leicester Square.

http://www.heartoflondon.info/

August 2006 photo of the tower here :-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/218478152/

I saw Miami Vice's premiere there. Was kinda cool.

That's a great photo of the tower. V for Vendetta was great on the huge screen, and on the exterior. My photo from April:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardbhaas/128449433/

This is a recent night view of the Odeon Leicester Square.

Two photographs of the copies of the 'Flying Ladies' which have now been restored to the side walls of the auditorium. The originals were scuptured by artist Raymond Briton Riviere in 1937 and were removed to the rubbish skip in 1967 in a 'modernisation' scheme.
http://flickr.com/photos/klunsa/46404054/
http://flickr.com/photos/klunsa/46403902/

Anybody know when the premier will be for pirates of the caribbean 3? if so any tips on getting tickets? Its my best friends 21st in May so would be amazing if i could get her tickets to this event!
Thanx

You don't get tickets for premieres unless you win them or know someone.

Does anyone know the set-up for the red carpet world premieres at the Odeon Leicester Square--are the celebrity arrivals on a certain alley or street? For the fan, what's the best place to stand and wait all day and get at least a pretty decent chance to get good pictures and maybe autographs from the stars?

The arrivals are from the south side of the square. The best place to be is by either the Wetherspoons pub or the Mexican restaurant.

Two more photogarphs here (exteriors in 2004):-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/386592582/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/386592580/

What is the best time to get there to see the stars turn up.

Is POC3 having a premier, if so is it on the 24th May?

Hi,

I thought you might be interested to know that the Radisson Edwardian Hampshire Hotel has installed a webcam in Leicester Square with 8 preset views including close ups of the Odeon Cinema for movie premieres. You might find it has a better view than fighting with the crowds and it allows you take screenshots.

The camera can be viewed at:

Leicester Square Webcam

A chance to see the Odeon and hear the Compton Theatre organ....FREE Admission....Saturday 16th June 2007 at 10;30am (doors open 10:00am)
Buster Keaton in "The General" (1927) with 'live' accompaniment by Donald MacKenzie at the Odeon's original Compton theatre organ. Get your FREE tickets from the Odeon box office.

Re the comments on the price of admission to the Odeon, Leicester Square. Back in 1947 I was doing my national service with the army and I found myself in London on duty for a few days. So, where better to go to the cinema than the Odeon Leicester Square ? The film was 'It Always Rains on Sunday' (in monochrome) with Googie Withers and John McCallum. The organ played and there was a short concert by the band of The Royal Military School of Music. The decor in the theatre was art deco and, all in all, it was quite an experience. I was in the centre stalls for which I paid four shillings and sixpence (quite a sum in those days)(about 23p or 46c)
A seat in the front circle would set you back eleven shillings and sixpence (about 58p or a bit over a dollar). I have been back many times since and, having been a projectionist, I managed to get a look at the projection room, which was fairly imposing.
By the by, I now live in Andover in Hampshire where we have been without a cinema for some years. However, they are building a huge Asda supermarket and when completed, it will feature a four screen multiplex (capacity approx 4 x 150) which sit atop the structure.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote: Ian
The Odeon Leicester Square incorrectly claims the "largest in Europe" tag - Scarborough's Futurist holds 2155, although a full house for a film is unknown!
------------------------------------------------------------------


Problem being, if you look at the website for the Scarborough Futurist you will see they don't show films any more. It's a live theatre venue.

Not true - Harry Potter is on at present.

The theatre has a 6 week summer season of live shows - with films in the afternoons and one evening a week.

Outside this it is a cinema 95% of the time with occasional one night live performances.

Your correct, I was looking at the wrong bit of the website.


Does anyone know what kind of projection equipment is installed? Sound system etc...

It was all renewed 3 years ago with "state of the art" facilities - but every one says that!

I can try and find out for you.

This part of the comments would be better on the Futurist page rather than the Odeon Leicester Square.

A pre revamp shot from 1987 here:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/1082583447/

Three September 2007 views here:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/1349795673/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/1349795953/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/1350686220/

I worked at the Odeon Leicester Square in 1973 (and at the same time - The Leicester Square Theatre, now Odeon West End). At that time both cinemas were owned by the Rank Organisation. I had a great year working on the square and there are a lot of happy memories. I think I preferred working at the Odeon as it always seemed to have a buzz about it. Maybe this was in part due to the organ being played at interval by the then resident organist, Gerald Shaw. The highlight of the year was the Royal Film Performance in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen. The film chosen that year was the forgetable musical remake of "Lost Horizon". This was shot on 70mm film and I was the one who had to cart all the boxes up to the bio box! I also remember that Peter Finch made a speech before the picture and then had great difficulty finding his way through the curtain to get off stage. There were other wonderful nights such as the premiere of "A Touch of Class" with Glenda Jackson - they had a London taxi come up out of the orchestra pit for that, then there was the annual James Bond film premiere - that year it was Roger Moore in "Live and Let Die". Joe Loss and his orchestra played at this premiere - I remember they had great difficulty with the theme from the film - but they got it right on the night. James Bond saw packed houses at every performance and there were about six performances a day. Another gala was the playing of the 1938 picture "Sixty Glorious Years" with Anna Neagal. The Queen Mother came along to this and I had the honour of opening her car door on arrival. The Odeon also used to show television pictures of major boxing matches and sometimes these would be on quite late. I often wondered how 2000 people could disappear so quickly from Leicester Square at three in the morning. The front of house staff had a rather bizarre uniform. The men wore a purple suit, with a pink shirt and a purple bow tie, the girls wore a pink dress with vertical stripes of differing shades of purple. I suppose it was one way of gaining customers' attention.

I have great memories of this theatre, because I was an usher there during the mid 1980's. My ambition was to become a Hollywood film director one day, and spending days and weeks watching the same film (only one screen) over and over somehow had an effect.

I, too, had to wear the strange uniform that was brilliant blue with yellow piping, and on special occasions, there was a cap, cape and gloves to go with it. Not the most flattering outfit for a young man trying to be cool in 1986.

I got my best friend a job there too, and we had fun tearing tickets and chatting up girls as they came in. One night, after nearly 2,000 patrons had already sat down to watch, I believe, "A Chorus Line", I tried to bar an attractive blonde girl who was sneaking inside late. We had strict rules not to allow anyone in after the film had started, the last vestige of British civilization I imagine. I hurried after this young woman and caught her in the dark between the double doors...more to let her know who was boss than actually scold her. "I'm sorry, Madam, I'm not supposed to let anyone in after the show has started", I said, but when another usher opened the double doors and found us in the dark with her flashlight, we were both somewhat shocked to see Lady Diana giggling in front of us, "Go on, let us in", she said. To which we obliged. One second later a large gentleman in a suit appeared behind me and flashed me a Special Branch ID card I believe, and of course, 17 years old, I decided to examine it!

I'm not sure how they found out, but the press soon showed up, and instead of knocking off and going home after a 12 hour day on our feet, we were immediately ordered to stand guard at the main doors until the film ended, because the press photographers started appearing like flies. They waited for two hours, trying to bribe us with fresh 20 pound notes for a good shot, and as the film ended a sea of 2,000 flooded toward the doors, but Lady Di was nowhere to be seen, ushered outside into the alley and away into the night.

For the Royal Film Preformance of "White Nights" I rolled out the red carpet for the Queen and was ordered to walk up and down it with several other ushers for quite some time to get rid of the kinks. We were on live TV that year, all lined up like a bizarre regiment as we greeted the Royal guests.

On ordinary days, I recall dragging six foot long plastic bags of pre popped popcorn from the dungeons below Leicester square, where we also kept the hot dogs, which I think stewed for days before being brought up to be 'cooked' and sold. The smell of popcorn has never been the same since. We had some real laughs back then, unless I was forced to be the switchboard operator to take over for the old lady who ran the board when she was off. The machine dated back to the sixties, with plugs that had to be pulled out when a light flashed. With no recorded messages, I had to become the 'voice' of the theater, dispensing show times and ticket prices in a deep and serious accent that was deemed appropriate. Mostly, folks asked when "Rocky IV" or "Out of Africa" was starting, both of which were at other theatres across the square.

Something must have rubbed off. I did become a Hollywood director and have lived in California ever since, I've sat in theatres and watched my work from behind the back row, just like I did in 1986, but to this day, I've never been back to the Odeon, one day maybe.

Premiere of Atonement at the Odeon Leicester Square:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9002531@N06/1557589734/

I attended the premiere of "Casino Royale" at the Odeon in November of 2006. The presentation was flawless. The Cinemascope aspect ratio was perfect. This is a terrific theatre!

This is another photo of the Odeon Leicester Square.

1978 shot with the premiere of Pink Panther here:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/2301402065/

Many thanks to Ken Roe for adding the premiers to the Intro.

A scanned photograph from the English Heritage collection, taken by John Maltby in 1937, showing the now little seen elaborate Safety Curtain:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2341318124/

I wonder just how good Indiana Jones sounded at this not a really good technical Dolby dts SDDS8 cinema its pants. Saw “Leatherheads” (2008) there on (Sunday April 20th 2008) and it was pants PANTS! The fronts where so narrow sound stereo was almost non-existent stereo surrounds wasn’t even involving and why the cinema politics! Because Indiana Jones thou its not really the best of the last two Temple of Doom was kinder taking the piss and the last the newest with that U.F.O. at the end was like something from the ending of the X-Files 1998 movie, what a RIP OFF!

So be warned the Odeon Leicester square has a crap sound installation and isn’t the final word in sound that, belongs to the Empire Leicester square screen 1 and its power JBL customized THX 56KW, I would pay three time to have seen it at the Empire and I wouldn’t even pay a dog to crap on the floor at the Odeon Leicester square, shame, shame we know your name Odeon!

Indy at the Odeon Leicester Square.

The Odeon and the Empire both have excelent sound systems. I watched Casine Royale at the Odeon and is sounded amazing.

As for the movie "Leatherheads" it had a crap sound mix (overly loud, lack of surrouds etc), so it's a bad example of a film to use to try and prove a point.

Leatherheads probably was meant to sound that way. The film itself was a throwback to 1930's screwball comedies so I'd say Clooney intended for a mono-like mix for the soundtrack.

Does the theater resemble at all the photo in the book on the making of Lawrence of Arabia and the photo above of the fire curtain?

Current "Mama Mia" make-over, the whole front has been covered in white plastic to make it look like a greek church and/or guest house, and the tower now has bells!, a very expensive makeover for its exclusive run of "Mama Mia" with a live stage show before the evening screenings:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2664655171/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2665473886/

Still sporting the white plastic finish put on the facade for the run of "Mama Mia", the European Premiere of "The Dark Knight" is held on Monday 21st July 2008:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2689038681/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2689040973/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2689854186/
As preparations for the event come to a climax, eager crowds gather mid-afternoon to greet the 'red carpet' stars arrival for the evening premiere:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2689855976/

Took my team to see The Dark Knight opening night at the Odeon Leicester Square...my first film there since 2003...packed house but surprisingly good customer service - they refunded two extra tickets I had on the spot - and a genuinely fun experience despite the fact that the film itself was easily 25 minutes too long. For crowded houses would recommend the balconies rather than the stalls (ground floor seats) where the leg room has never been terrific)...Row O was quite ok...shame that in London noone sits still for the credits

Here is a recent night view.

I can't believe that I've been to London THREE TIMES but have never visited this theater. I must be a prize idiot.

Anyway, here is a nice article from the Daily Mail about the Royal premiere held here for the new James Bond movie Quantum of Solace.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1081622/On-Her-Majestys-Secret-Service-Princes-William-Harry-inspiration-007-James-Bond-premiere.html

In case this has been missed elsewhere the link below is to an excellent English Heritage site that has most of John Maltby's Odeon circuit pictures including some showing the demolition of the Alhambra and construction of the Odeon Leicester Square.Just enter Odeon in search box and spend a happy hour or two viewing as I did.

http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/

This is a 2009 photo of a red colored Odeon.

The Odeon seems to be used more and more as a giant billboard for specific films - the red does not suit it! The red plastic coating is for the film "The Boat That Rocked"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3454181126/

For anyone visiting for the first time, the Circle seats are by far the better (especially the first few rows). Avoid the Stalls (unless very tall) as they are hardly raked and you inevitably spend your time dodging the two heads jammed in front of you (unless, as I did, you see 'Alexander' there on a Saturday evening and the cinema was STILL empty).

Hi,

Just to let you know the address isn't correct, I got this from the official ODEON website: 22-24 Leicester Square

"Mama Mia" should have played at the Empire in 56KW JBL THX sound system not this fleapit infested dump with lousy front stereo spread. Dull lifeless surrounds and sub bass that sounds like it belongs back in the 1920’s alongside Al Jolson.

The over priced tickets £13.50 is criminal as well to sit in those disgusting seats! Leopard skin, please.

I’d soon spend £13.50 at the Empire many times over Odeon!

The World Premiere of Walt Disney's "A Christmas Carol" will be held at 3 cinemas in London's West End simultaneously on 3rd November 2009. The 'A' List World Premiere will be at the Empire Leicester Square, with other World Premiere's at the Odeon Lecester Square, and both the two screens at the Odeon West End, Leiceser Square. The film will be presented in Digital 3D in all cinemas.

Whilst there is certainly a buzz about the Odeon, particularly when the latest blockbuster is showing to a full house, and it is great that in the days when most cinemas are now bland multiplexes with tiny screens, they have retained the huge main auditorium intact, I personally feel the Odeon is over-hyped, over-priced and does not offer facilities that come anywhere close to the Empire across the Square.

The entrance foyer is crammed between the street and auditorium with very limited space on the Stalls level. The slate of the screen (due to the high location of the projection box) is very noticeable from the middle of the stalls forward. If it is busy, avoid the stalls as the seats are not raked sufficiently and your view will be partly obstructed by a tall person who chooses to sit in front of you. Added to which you can feel tube trains rambling underneath your feet.

Upstairs seats in the Royal Circle do offer good sightlines but these are the only ones that do and they come at a price - £24 the last time I went there (Mamma Mia last year or the year before that?).

The main screen at the Odeon is a maximum of 15.85m x 7.92m whereas at The Empire (which has a smaller auditorium – 1,330 seats compared with the Odeon’s 1,683) the screen size is 18.26 x 8.14. Sitting in the Rear Circle at the Odeon, the screen looks so small in comparison to the size of the auditorium that it feels like you are watching a portable television. Some seats even have restricted views.

The sound is good but on a scale of 1-10 where 10 is the best, the Odeon would not warrant 6 or 7 compared with 10 for the Empire’s 56kw THX certified system.

So why is it that distributors cannot see that the enjoyment of a film is enhanced by the Empire’s superior facilities but still choose the Odeon?

two organ shots from the opening night of the London Film Festival 2009
in green
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/4037833499/
and red
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/4037824713/

Some photographs of the Odeon and vintage photographs, memorabilia and history of the Alhambra Theatre which stood on the site:
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Alhambra.htm