Gaumont Plaza Cinema

DavidSimpson on April 10, 2017 at 9:45 am

On 27th March 2017, when I visited the Gaumont Plaza (to see “Beauty and the Beast”, starring Emma Watson) I was very fortunate to meet operator Ashley Whyatt.

This is, of course, very much a work-in-progress. To get the film shows started, the former stalls have been brought back to life through the construction of a temporary projection box halfway down the centre aisle and the installation of a combination of multiplex seats and two and three-seat settees. 104 patrons can be accommodated, and the extremely comfortable seating has been arranged to provide plenty of leg-room. The scale of the auditorium allows for a huge screen, and I (together with a promisingly large number of patrons) thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

In due course, the projection box will be moved further back, to allow for seating for about 140 patrons, in more conventional rows.

At that time, the temporary box office/concession stand, at the back of the stalls, will be moved into the internal foyer (the original box office, in the outer foyer, is not currently being used).

Meanwhile, the circle has been blocked off, and two 50-seat cinemas are being constructed side by side, Ashley realising, quite rightly, that one single screen is simply not sufficient.

It was lovely to see this cinema coming back to life, and I wished Ashley and his team all the very best.

popcorn_pete on March 17, 2017 at 9:10 pm

Operated by Ashley Whyatt who runs two cinemas in Essex and Kent. The opening film was reputed to be Bridget Jones’s Baby.

Eric Evans on August 10, 2016 at 6:29 pm

I’m surprised no one has as yet commented on such a great looking cinema, I forgot to mention in my first comment that the cinema has still has it’s balcony seats in place.