Odeon Harrogate

The Sutton Coldfield Odeon (re-named Empire Cinema in 2006) and Harrogate Odeon are the only two in this distinctive chain to share a near identical design (in Sutton Coldfield by architect Cecil Clavering of the Harry Weedon practice) opening in April and September 1936 respectively. The Odeon Harrogate opened on 28th September 1936 with Gene Gerrard in “Where’s Sally”. Seating was provided for a total of 1,647; 1,049 in the stalls and 598 in the circle.

Quintessential ‘Odeon’ external design involving curved entrance, tall slender Art Deco fin, faience tiles and brick faced auditorium.

The auditorium was streamlined with no direct lighting. It was sub-divided in August 1972 with screen 1 forming the former circle and the front stalls with seating for 532 and screen’s 2 & 3 formed under the circle with 108 seats each.

In 1989, the circle and front stalls were separated into 2 screens making 4 in total. It has since been modernised and the circle sub-divided giving the 5 screen’s today which seat (in 2008); 298, 239, 102, 80 and 337.

The Odeon is a Grade II Listed building

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

Ken Roe on December 28, 2006 at 4:16 pm

Photographed as a single screen in the 1960’s. The ‘Odeon’ sign on the left of the building has been removed:
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Ian on March 14, 2007 at 5:05 pm

A pre-rebrannding photo here:–

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Mikebsc on July 2, 2007 at 9:47 pm

Just wanted to post a corrected to the main article above.

The Cinema has 5 screens, not 4.

2 Screens upstairs and 3 downstairs.

Seating Capacities:
Upstairs:
Screen 1: 298
Screen 2: 239
Downstairs:
Screen 3: 100
Screen 4: 78
Screen 5: 333

Ian on October 18, 2007 at 3:11 pm

A further series of exterior shots of the iconic Odeon design from October 2007 here:

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Ian on February 29, 2008 at 11:22 am

Two 1978 vintage pictures here:–

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leeadama on June 5, 2008 at 5:15 pm

Design is almost identical to the old Odeon building in Newport, S.Wales seen here:

/theaters/3420/

currently being used as a church, give or take the positioning of a few windows & doors.

Ian on September 15, 2011 at 3:46 am

September 2011 photo

HARROGATE ODEON

Eric Evans on August 22, 2012 at 12:22 pm

I’ve uploaded 2 photos, but first time they were out of focus,so I tried again, and had a better result, but I’m unable to erase the blurry ones. Is it possible to do so ?

Mike_Blakemore on May 16, 2022 at 7:42 am

Odeon Colwyn Bay was the same style

Mike_Blakemore on May 13, 2024 at 11:49 am

I believe the designs were Sutton Coldfield’s just rejigged to fit this site. There is much much the same to be a brand new plan.. So Cecil Clevering should be credited