Odeon's £500,000 revamp to wow film fans
EXETER’S Odeon cinema has completed a major £500,000 revamp.
The venue, which has been attracting film fans for 60 years, has undergone a radical overhaul.
Bosses at the cinema claim the development is a big vote of confidence in the city. And business leaders have also welcomed the investment.
Peter Wallington, general manager of the cinema, said film-goers would notice a big difference at the venue in Sidwell Street.
He said: “The team at Odeon Exeter are very excited about the great investment in our cinema. We are really looking forward to guests enjoying the new look. There have been some significant changes and it’s great that we can now share them with local film fans.
“With the release of big blockbusters coming up this year, it’s going to be a great time to get fanatical about film.”
The four-screen cinema has invested in screen enlargements which gives film-goers up to 20 per cent more viewing size.
It has improved the seating in all auditoriums with increased leg room and new luxury premier seating.
New-style flooring has also been added in each auditorium.
Subtitling facilities for the hard of hearing and audio description facilities for the visually impaired have also been installed in screen two.
All other auditoriums and key communication areas are fitted with induction loop systems.
The ticket and retail counter have also been refurbished with a large range of food and drink introduced.
Exeter city centre manager John Harvey welcomed the refurbishment. He said: “It’s a welcome investment and helps ensure cinema-goers in Exeter get a fantastic choice, which is important in making the city a more attractive shopping and leisure destination.”
The investment is a show of confidence in the city by the firm, despite increased competition for audiences from the nearby Vue cinema, which opened in Cheeke Street in 2006.
Odeon responded by cutting ticket prices and modernising facilities.
Work at the city’s Odeon — part of the UK’s biggest cinema chain — took around a month to complete.
The cinema remained open for business throughout its refurbishment, with only slight alterations to screening schedules to accommodate the works.
To find out film times and to book tickets call the computerised film line on 0871 22 44007 or visit www.odeon.co.uk.
6 Comments
by Rhys, exeter
Thursday, August 20 2009, 10:35AM
“I think that the vue cinema is a rip becuse of the price odeon is triying its best and they do cheap refreshments i mean 3.00 for water at vue 1.70 at odeon i mean come on”
by CB, Exeter
Monday, June 01 2009, 6:17PM
“Lets hope with such an improvement they actually bothered to install a lift so wheelchair users can access all screens! I will be very interested to see the improvments soon, and if wheelchair users still can't access every screen I will be asking some very serious questions.”
by Katherine, Exeter, Exeter
Monday, June 01 2009, 3:12PM
“The main problem I have with the Odeon is that there never seems to be any staff present when a film is being screened. A group of 10 boys aged around 12 ruined a matinée screening of Quantum of Solace by talking loudly and throwing things at each other for the duration of the film. I reported them to the staff outside twice but as soon as the Odeon staff came in to check on them they stopped misbehaving then predictably as soon as they left the boys started playing up again.
I also have a problem with paying almost £3 for a bottle of still mineral water.
Thank god for the Picturehouse, a quality cinema which shows a really great mix of films and where the staff actually care.”
by T Williams, Exeter
Monday, June 01 2009, 2:27PM
“Sorry CDER but do you not think 20 minutes of waiting in a queue with kids isn't enough? Its not a refit the Odeon needs it needs to brush up on customer service (put a smile on those faces) & the prices really need to be thought about. Its along time since I have been to the Odeon after I made a promise to myself not to go again the staff are grumpy, the seat are so uncomfortable & for a family it costs a fortune for an hour or two. I would be happier to wait until it comes out on DVD . Though I do have to say I hope the seating is more comfortable & anything would be better than the last refit.”
by CDER, Exeter
Monday, June 01 2009, 12:52PM
“Perhaps in future you give yourself some extra time knowing it would be busy, then you won't be disappointed”
by A Welch, Exeter
Monday, June 01 2009, 12:05PM
“Good luck to the Odeon in their attempts to win back customers from the Vue. I'm afraid you still some work to do.
Last Wednesday' being an Orange user and it being school half term, I decided to take my youngest to see Night at the Museum.
We started queuing at 11:20 for a 11:40 performance. By 11:40 we had just entered the foyer but weren't too worried as you usually get 10 minutes or so of aadverts to start with.
At 11:50 we were only halfway in and noticed that there were only two tills open, one selling tickets and retail and one selling solely retail. It didn't take long to realise that we were never going to get in to see this performance so left and walked down to the vue.
There we also found that all tills were selling bothe tickets and retail, the difference was that the Vue had more than enough tills open to deal with a Half- term, Orange Wednesday.
So the Odeon may be doing well but they can do better.”