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!
CF100
commented about
BFI IMAXon
Jul 27, 2017 at 4:08 am
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?
Auditorium looks good, looks like a “redecoration” (i.e. the wall coverings/carpets/seating.)
Looks like the main tabs have been kept, although they’re open in that photo.
A comment on the first page linked notes that the seats aren’t staggered, resulting in sightline problems.
The second foyer photo (featuring “Square Pie”) looks absolutely hideous and is completely inappropriate IMO for a cinema, as well as being substandard for a premiere site. The hanging lights aren’t even of the same length!
Not too keen on the facade either but better than the mess that it had become and the quality of the finishes look to be of a suitably high standard.
The “heritage” aspect only requires elements such as the ceiling to be kept and the overall form respected, as has been the case with previous refurbishments. It still allows scope for their “house” style/branding to be imposed.
If they take over the Icon bar, then depending on the scope for chopping and change the internals, they could reconfigure by moving the vestibule staircase forward so that the bar integrates with the rest of the foyer area. I would hope for something special but if a major reconfiguration occurs then I suspect none of the 1960s “heritage” elements will be left. :–(
theatreofvarieties: Good news! They had better respect the heritage of the foyer though (and, IMO, keep the fibre optic “starfield” lights from the late 1980s refurb.)
(N.B. The Icon bar extends onto the balcony on the LSQ frontage. Therefore, it is on the same level as cinema’s foyer, adjacent to the starcase leading to screens 7-9.)
Correction to my previous post on the planning permission timeframe for the replacement roof: The respective building control entry on Westminster Council’s website notes that this has been completed. Having a look at Google Earth (i.e. the full-featured PC software rather than http://maps.google.com/) and comparing to “historical imagery,” the clearly “patched” appearance is no longer there, and so this would appear to be the case.
FanaticalAboutOdeon: A comprehensive conversion could of course not be justified in all cases, but at the same time, too many were clearly very inexpensive and were also ill-thought out.
I cannot see any purpose in the rear “corridor” seats, other than to frustrate those patrons with no other seating option given a full house, nor the two rear surround speakers on the “corridor” sidewalls.
(Maybe I am rather naive about the “purpose” of the rear seats, as this could be ideal for those wishing to engage in activities other than watching the feature?!)
This is perhaps an extreme example, but there were too many which ended up with odd seating arrangements, off-centre projection and screens angled away from the seating.
Combined with poor quality interiors the overall impression was of a “fleapit.”
More recently, many of those less than ideal conversions which still exist have, at least, been refurbished to at least provide reasonable interiors.
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?
theatreofvarieties: Thanks for the correction! :–)
Auditorium and facade photos.
Auditorium (same picture) and foyer photos.
Another picture of one of the main auditoriums—towards the screen—picture 10.
Auditorium looks good, looks like a “redecoration” (i.e. the wall coverings/carpets/seating.)
Looks like the main tabs have been kept, although they’re open in that photo.
A comment on the first page linked notes that the seats aren’t staggered, resulting in sightline problems.
The second foyer photo (featuring “Square Pie”) looks absolutely hideous and is completely inappropriate IMO for a cinema, as well as being substandard for a premiere site. The hanging lights aren’t even of the same length!
Not too keen on the facade either but better than the mess that it had become and the quality of the finishes look to be of a suitably high standard.
The “heritage” aspect only requires elements such as the ceiling to be kept and the overall form respected, as has been the case with previous refurbishments. It still allows scope for their “house” style/branding to be imposed.
If they take over the Icon bar, then depending on the scope for chopping and change the internals, they could reconfigure by moving the vestibule staircase forward so that the bar integrates with the rest of the foyer area. I would hope for something special but if a major reconfiguration occurs then I suspect none of the 1960s “heritage” elements will be left. :–(
theatreofvarieties: Good news! They had better respect the heritage of the foyer though (and, IMO, keep the fibre optic “starfield” lights from the late 1980s refurb.)
(N.B. The Icon bar extends onto the balcony on the LSQ frontage. Therefore, it is on the same level as cinema’s foyer, adjacent to the starcase leading to screens 7-9.)
Correction to my previous post on the planning permission timeframe for the replacement roof: The respective building control entry on Westminster Council’s website notes that this has been completed. Having a look at Google Earth (i.e. the full-featured PC software rather than http://maps.google.com/) and comparing to “historical imagery,” the clearly “patched” appearance is no longer there, and so this would appear to be the case.
FanaticalAboutOdeon: A comprehensive conversion could of course not be justified in all cases, but at the same time, too many were clearly very inexpensive and were also ill-thought out.
For example, this one:
Odeon Harlow – “Urban Exploration” photo
I cannot see any purpose in the rear “corridor” seats, other than to frustrate those patrons with no other seating option given a full house, nor the two rear surround speakers on the “corridor” sidewalls.
(Maybe I am rather naive about the “purpose” of the rear seats, as this could be ideal for those wishing to engage in activities other than watching the feature?!)
This is perhaps an extreme example, but there were too many which ended up with odd seating arrangements, off-centre projection and screens angled away from the seating.
Combined with poor quality interiors the overall impression was of a “fleapit.”
More recently, many of those less than ideal conversions which still exist have, at least, been refurbished to at least provide reasonable interiors.