Empire Leicester Square
A historic London cinema and film-premiere venue on the north side of Leicester Square.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Empire Leicester Square is a landmark cinema on the north side of Leicester Square in London, England. Although it is now operated by Cineworld and is commonly presented as Cineworld Leicester Square, the site retains the historical identity of the Empire, a venue whose entertainment history spans theatre, music hall, ballet, early film exhibition, cinema and nightclub operations. The building first opened on 17 April 1884 as the Empire Theatre, a large West End variety theatre owned by Daniel Nicols. It presented musical spectacles, comic opera, ballet and popular entertainment, and quickly became associated with ambitious stage production. The venue also played a role in the development of British ballet: performers including Adeline Genée and the resident company working with Leopold Wenzel helped sustain and popularise the form during a period when ballet had lost much of its earlier prominence in Britain. An extension with a secondary entrance from Leicester Street was completed in 1893, designed by Frank Verity. The Empire was among the earliest important British venues for projected motion pictures. In March 1896 it hosted commercial theatrical presentations of films by Auguste and Louis Lumière. Moving images initially appeared alongside live entertainment, but their popularity increased steadily. The original theatre was largely demolished in 1927 and replaced by a substantially enlarged movie palace designed by Thomas W. Lamb, with local assistance from architects associated with Frank Matcham's practice. The new cinema opened on 8 November 1928 with Trelawny of the Wells. Developed in an American movie-palace style for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and its partners, it held approximately 3,300 people and was among the first fully air-conditioned cinemas in the United Kingdom. It also included a Wurlitzer organ and a large stage capable of hosting live shows. After the Second World War, the venue operated in a cine-variety format, combining film screenings with elaborate live presentations. In 1959, after reports that the cinema might be demolished, the auditorium was adapted for a major 70 mm presentation of Ben-Hur. Around 1,200 seats were removed, a new screen and projection equipment were installed, and the film eventually ran for 76 weeks. The building was sold to Mecca in 1961 and closed for a major internal reconstruction. The 1962 redevelopment created a modern 1,330-seat cinema for MGM above a Mecca dance hall. Much of the 1920s interior decoration was removed, although some historic elements survived behind later finishes. The former lower-level entertainment space later went through several identities, including a ballroom, discothèque and nightclub. It became the Equinox Discothèque in 1992 and was substantially rebuilt as the Casino at the Empire in 2007. The casino is separately operated and is not the cinema business. The cinema itself underwent important technical and architectural changes from the late 1980s onward. A 1989 refurbishment updated the lobby and main auditorium, introduced a THX-certified sound system and added decorative lighting effects. Dolby SR-D, DTS and SDDS systems followed in the early 1990s. After Empire Cinemas acquired the site, Screen 1 regained THX certification in 2006 and received a major sound, screen and acoustic upgrade. The venue later hosted the world debut of Avatar with a large-format Dolby 3D system in 2009 and received what was described as the United Kingdom's first public Dolby Atmos installation in 2012. In 2013, the original main auditorium closed for a large-scale conversion. It reopened as two auditoria: a 723-seat IMAX theatre and a 401-seat IMPACT auditorium, later renamed Superscreen after Cineworld's acquisition. The IMPACT auditorium opened in May 2014 with Pompeii, followed by the IMAX auditorium later that month with Edge of Tomorrow. The IMAX installation was upgraded to laser projection and 12-channel sound in 2015. Today the site has nine auditoria, i…
History
The site opened on 17 April 1884 as the Empire Theatre, a West End variety venue established by Daniel Nicols. Its early programme included musical spectacles, comic opera, ballet and other popular stage entertainment. Productions associated with the theatre included works by Hervé, Edward Solomon and Sydney Grundy, while performers such as Kate Vaughan appeared there. The theatre became particularly significant for ballet during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Designers and producers including C. Wilhelm contributed to its stage style, and the work of Adeline Genée, Leopold Wenzel and the resident ballet company helped strengthen ballet's public profile in Britain. A Leicester Street entrance and foyer extension designed by Frank Verity was added in 1893. In March 1896, the venue presented commercial theatrical film performances by Auguste and Louis Lumière. Films initially formed part of a mixed programme with live acts, but the growing popularity of cinema eventually changed the building's purpose. The original theatre was acquired for redevelopment in 1925 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in partnership with Solly Joel. Following the last live theatre production, the building was substantially demolished and rebuilt as a large cinema. Thomas W. Lamb was the principal designer, with local architectural assistance from F. W. Boettcher and Frederick G. M. Chancellor of Frank Matcham and Company. The new movie palace opened on 8 November 1928 with Trelawny of the Wells. Its North American-inspired design, approximately 3,300-seat capacity, air conditioning, Wurlitzer organ and substantial stage made it one of Britain's notable interwar cinemas. MGM subsequently acquired Joel's interest. After the Second World War, the Empire presented cine-variety programmes that combined feature films with large-scale live entertainment. The venue appeared in Charlie Chaplin's 1952 film Limelight and in archival coverage of public events. In 1959, the cinema was adapted for a long 70 mm presentation of Ben-Hur. The project removed approximately 1,200 seats and introduced new projection equipment and a screen installed in front of the former proscenium. The engagement lasted 76 weeks. The site was sold to Mecca in 1961 and closed for extensive reconstruction. Architect George Coles oversaw the work, which stripped out much of the earlier interior and created a new 1,330-seat auditorium at circle level. A Mecca ballroom was formed in the former stalls and later became a dance hall, discothèque and nightclub. The cinema reopened on 19 December 1962 with Jumbo. Most of the 1920s plasterwork disappeared during this redevelopment, although isolated sections survived behind later walls and ceilings. The lower entertainment area changed operators and names over subsequent decades. It was reworked as the Equinox Discothèque in 1992 and later reopened as the Casino at the Empire in 2007. The cinema facade, which had been hidden for many years by advertising hoardings, was exposed again in 1989 and subsequently received several canopy treatments. In 1989, Screen 1 and the lobby were refurbished with new decorative finishes, fibre-optic lighting, upgraded environmental systems and a THX sound installation. Additional Dolby, DTS and SDDS technologies were introduced during the early 1990s. Following Empire Cinemas' acquisition, Screen 1 was again refurbished and THX certification was restored in 2006. The work included a new loudspeaker system, acoustic treatment, a wider screen and renewed capability for large-format presentation. A major Dolby 3D installation was used for the 2009 debut of Avatar, and Dolby Atmos was installed for public use in 2012. The most consequential modern redevelopment began in August 2013, when Screen 1 closed for conversion into two auditoria. The project removed most remaining decorative finishes and constructed a substantial acoustic separation structure. The resulting 723-seat IMAX auditorium opened on 30 May 2014 with Edge of Tomorrow, while the 401-seat IMPACT auditorium opened on 16 May 2014 with Pompeii. IMPACT was later renamed Superscreen following Cineworld's acquisition. The IMAX auditorium received laser projection and an expanded 12-channel sound system in October 2015. The venue currently operates as a nine-screen Cineworld site with IMAX, Superscreen and 4DX facilities. It remains one of the best-known London locations for premieres, first runs and premium-format screenings.
- 2016
Cineworld acquisition
[1]Cineworld acquires the venue, which subsequently becomes known as Cineworld Leicester Square.
- 2015
IMAX laser upgrade
[1]The IMAX auditorium receives laser projection and an upgraded 12-channel sound system.
- 2014
IMAX and IMPACT auditoria open
[1]The former Screen 1 is divided into a 723-seat IMAX auditorium and a 401-seat IMPACT auditorium.
- 2012
Dolby Atmos installed
[1]The main auditorium receives a public Dolby Atmos installation with overhead and additional surround speakers.
- 2009
Large-screen Dolby 3D debut
[1]Screen 1 receives a large-screen Dolby 3D system for the UK debut of Avatar.
- 2005
Empire Cinemas takes ownership
[1]The site is sold to Empire Cinemas after the UCI and Odeon merger and related site disposals.
- 1989
Screen 1 and lobby refurbished
[1]The main cinema and public areas receive a major design, sound and building-services refurbishment.
- 1962
Major Mecca reconstruction completed
[1]The site reopens with a modern cinema and a separate Mecca ballroom following extensive internal reconstruction.
- 1959
Ben-Hur 70 mm presentation
[1]The cinema is adapted for a major 70 mm engagement of Ben-Hur, including a new screen and projection equipment.
- 1928
New cinema opens
[1]The rebuilt venue opens on 8 November with Trelawny of the Wells.
Products and positioning
A historic central London cinema positioned around premium large-format exhibition, high-profile film premieres and first-run entertainment.
Large-format cinema · 2014
IMAX auditorium
The principal premium auditorium created from the former Screen 1. It seats 723 people and has one of the United Kingdom's largest cinema screens by width. The installation began with dual xenon projection and was upgraded to IMAX laser projection in 2015, together with a 12-channel sound system and additional overhead and side surround speakers.
Large-format cinema · 2014
Superscreen
A 401-seat large-format auditorium created alongside the IMAX conversion. Originally named IMPACT, it was renamed Superscreen after Cineworld acquired the venue. It is designed for prominent first-run films and premium presentation rather than conventional small-screen programming.
Immersive cinema
4DX
An immersive screening format offered at the modern Cineworld venue. 4DX presentations combine motion-enabled seating with environmental effects and are used for selected blockbuster releases and other films distributed in the format.
Cinema exhibition
Standard first-run screens
The remaining auditoria provide conventional digital theatrical exhibition for current commercial releases, special screenings and premiere-related programming. Together with the premium auditoria, they form a nine-screen cinema complex.
Brand decisions
2016
Cineworld acquires the cinemaM&ABackground
Empire Leicester Square was part of Empire Cinemas' estate before being acquired by Cineworld.
Action taken
Cineworld took ownership and incorporated the venue into its London cinema network.
Aftermath
The cinema became commonly known as Cineworld Leicester Square and continued operating as a premium central London venue.
2013
Convert the principal auditorium into IMAX and IMPACTGeneration changeBackground
The historic single Screen 1 was closed to modernise the site's premium exhibition offer and create two large auditoria.
Action taken
The auditorium was extensively stripped and rebuilt as a 723-seat IMAX theatre and a 401-seat IMPACT theatre, with a major acoustic separation structure.
Aftermath
The two new auditoria opened in May 2014; IMPACT was later renamed Superscreen after the Cineworld acquisition.
Sources1 sources
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