Cineworld Cinema - Southampton

Biffaskin on April 9, 2024 at 2:51 pm

Declared open at a ribbon cutting ceremony by Eastenders star Anita Dobson on 20th July, 1989. Special guests were treated to a performance by musicians called Fingers & Frets and saw a preview of the film Lethal Weapon II starring Mel Gibson almost two months before the film was released, followed by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

A second screen also showed this film, the other three remaining screens opening with The Land Before Time, Licence to Thrill and finally Police Academy 6.

PhilipWW on April 5, 2018 at 1:02 pm

It opened in 1989 with INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE as the main draw in Screen 1. Then it was Southampton’s premier cinema. Since than it has faced competition from first Harbour Lights, literally yards away, then the Odeon multiplex in Leisure World to finally, last year, the new Showcase Cinema de Lux in the city centre. Now I think it is struggling and is probably the one most likely to close if times get rough.

At opening, all 5 screens were 1.85 with top down masking for Scope films. With digital presentations, I presume the masking has gone but don’t know for sure. At one point, in Virgin’s time, there was talk of redesigning the auditoria and giving them full Scope screens but I don’t think it came to much.

I used to go to there regularly in the 90s but stopped going as the cinema went into a gentle decline and there were better presentations on offer elsewhere. I gather Cineworld are not investing in keeping it up to date, though that comment is heresay.

The cinema is on a stand-alone site so could be redeveloped for other uses when the lease is up. However, a lot of apartment blocks have been built very nearby in recent years so it may remain a popular venue for those within walking distance and confound everyone and survive. I don’t think it is a cinema anymore that people would want to drive to for the experience.