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Derelict cinema reopening soon

From the archive, first published Saturday 16th Jun 2007.

YORK'S Odeon cinema is set to re-open this summer under new ownership - and will then be restored to its former glory under a major refurbishment scheme.

The Press can reveal the lease on the Art Deco building in Blossom Street is being bought by independent cinema chain Reel Cinema (UK) Ltd, which plans to turn it into a top quality five-screen picturehouse.

The news will delight more than 13,000 readers who backed our Save The Odeon campaign, which called for the old cinema to be both kept open and refurbished.

Reel Cinema managing director Kailash Suri said today he hoped the cinema could re-open by August, enabling parents to take their children there during the long summer holidays.

He said the company would then set about restoring the building, having worked closely with council planners and English Heritage on drawing up its plans.

"It's a beautiful, Art Deco building in need of some TLC (tender loving care)," he said.

The company planned to divide the large auditorium into two screens, and create three screens downstairs where there were previously two. He said Reel Cinema was confident there would be sufficient custom for the cinema, despite the existence of the City Screen in Coney Street and Vue Cinema at Clifton Moor.

"We will not just be providing a cinema but a cinema-going experience. We want to make it a magical place," he said. "We will be re-opening the bar and café."

He said the cinema, which shut down at the end of last August, would re-open after a clean-up before the major refurbishment had started.

He said the company had experience of re-opening cinemas elsewhere after long periods of closure, and the main problems normally encountered were vandalism and difficulties such as damp.

He said the York complex would remain open during most of the work, apart from perhaps the occasional day or week, for example when ceilings were being re-decorated. At times, certain screens would shut during the day to allow for work, leaving other screens open.

He compared the Odeon to another of Reel's flagship cinemas, the former Curzon at Loughborough, an Art Deco building which the company had spent three years transforming into a superb cinema.

Reel has applied to City of York Council for a premises licence, including provision of entertainment and late-night refreshments until 4am.

Derek Atkins, a leading light in The Press' Save the Odeon campaign, was "delighted" by news that the cinema would re-opening, saying he had always hoped this might happen.

He expressed concern that the sub-division of the cinema into five screens, saying it would hide certain Art Deco features from view, but said this was a small price to pay if the cinema was to re-open.

SIMON MARKS asked people for their reaction to news that the cinema is set to reopen and be given a revamp.

Stuart Allen, 48, of Queen Street, York: "It's really good; I've been here a few times. It's very local. If it is back again I wouldn't want it to be anything else other than a cinema."

Leighanne Genavese, 34, of Mount Vale, York: "It is a great bit of news. I live just up the road and my kids used to come here as a Christmas treat. Now they'll be able to come again."

Jamie Shaw, 17, of South Bank, York: "I think it's really great. It's a very local cinema in a classic style. Also, it has been here for ages. Now we'll be able to watch more mainstream films."

Steven Kaye, 50, of Wetherby:

"It is great news; I believe we should be holding on to our local tradition. It will be great to be able to go to Saturday morning matinees again."

What is Reel Cinemas and what is its track record?

THE independent cinema chain started out in 2001, when the Curzon Cinema in Loughborough was acquired as a major property development project.

The cinema, also an Art Deco building, then underwent a major refurbishment.

"After a period of extensive research, it became apparent that an opportunity existed to develop a complete cinema experience," says the company's website.

The Curzon Leisure Group was then formed, aimed at providing "tailored experiences to specific market sectors within town centre environments".

Following expansion, the company was re-named and re-branded in 2005 as Reel Cinemas Ltd, and the chain has grown to ten cinemas, with more in the pipeline.

It says "unique business opportunities" have been identified that can be replicated across a number of town centre cinemas.

"To this end, Reel Cinemas has put together a highly skilled and professional team to expand the group and strengthen the brand."

Reel says its operating philosophy is to provide customers with comfort, cleanliness, affordable prices, friendly, knowledgeable staff giving quality customer service, great pictures and sound, and the latest movies.

At Loughborough, adult admission prices range from £5 to £5.50, with under 15s paying £4.25, and all tickets £3 on Wednesdays.

There is also a senior citizens club, with pensioners paying £3 to see classic films, such as Oklahoma! on a Thursday afternoon. Mainstream films coming up include Shrek 3.

Announcement brings belated victory for readers of The Press

THE Press campaign to Save the Odeon won huge public support, with more than 13,000 people signing our petition.

We wanted the cinema to stay open, but also called for it to be given a badly-needed refurbishment.

Odeon had launched an assessment of the cinema's economic viability, after being refused permission from planners for one aspect of a refurbishment scheme.

Campaign supporters spoke of the vital need for a mainstream city centre cinema, which they could get to without needing to catch a bus or drive a car.

Our petition was delivered by York MP Hugh Bayley to Odeon's headquarters, despite an initial refusal to receive the documents by hand.

Eventually, the company announced in spring last year that it had, with regret, decided to shut the complex, because of increasing pressure from competition in the area, including the City Screen in Coney Street and Vue at Clifton Moor.

It said it had made every effort to find a solution to the financial position and enable the cinema to remain open.

Today's announcement means a belated victory for The Press and its readers - albeit with a different cinema owner.