Odeon Cinema, Sutton Coldfield

The Odeon Cinema, Sutton Coldfield, is a historic cinema located at Maney Corner in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, England. Built in 1936 as part of the Odeon chain founded by Oscar Deutsch, it is a notable example of Art Deco cinema architecture designed by Cecil Clavering of the Harry Weedon partnership. The building is Grade II listed, recognized for its expressionistic composition inspired by the Titania-Palast in Berlin. It originally opened on 18 April 1936 with a screening of the film First a Girl, seating 1,028 in the stalls and 572 in the balcony. Over the decades, it was adapted into a multi-screen venue, with three screens by 1972 and a fourth added in 1987. In 2006, it was taken over by Empire Cinemas and renamed the Empire Cinema. The cinema closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, briefly reopened, and closed again in November 2020. In 2023, it was purchased by PDJ Cinemas, and after a refurbishment that included new screens, sound systems, seating, and restored Art Deco features, it reopened in July 2024 as the Royal Cinema. Today, it operates four screens with a total seating capacity of 456, with the largest screen seating about 200. The cinema remains a cherished local landmark and a testament to Britain's cinematic heritage.

The cinema was built as one of the Odeon Cinemas of Oscar Deutsch. The architect was Cecil Clavering of the Harry Weedon partnership. The style, by the same firm, was first produced for the Odeon, Kingstanding, and further Odeon Cinemas in similar style were built in York, Harrogate and Scarborough. The listing text describes that the foyer, staircase and auditorium are "each defined as a separate block in a complex, carefully massed and expressionistic composition" inspired by the Titania-Palast in Berlin, built in 1928. The cinema opened on 18 April 1936; the first film shown was First a Girl. It seated 1028 in the stalls and 572 in the balcony. From April 1972 there were three screens: one was viewed from the balcony, and two, each seating 132, were created in the rear stalls below. A fourth screen was created in 1987 in the former front stalls. In 2006, Empire Cinemas took over this and several other Odeon Cinemas, and it was renamed the Empire Cinema. It closed in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic; after briefly re-opening later in the year, it closed in November 2020. The cinema was bought by PDJ Cinemas in 2023, and after refurbishment, including new screens, sound systems, seating and Art Deco features, it opened in July 2024 as the Royal Cinema. There are four screens, seating 456 in total; the largest, Screen 1, in the former circle, seats about 200.

• 2024

  Reopened in July 2024 as the Royal Cinema after refurbishment.

• 2023

  Bought by PDJ Cinemas.

• 2020

  Closed in March 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic; briefly reopened and closed again in November 2020.

• 2006

  Taken over by Empire Cinemas and renamed Empire Cinema.

• 1987

  A fourth screen was added in the former front stalls.

• 1972

  Converted to three screens in April 1972.

• 1936

  Opened as Odeon Cinema on 18 April 1936 with the film First a Girl.

A historic, listed Art Deco cinema serving the local community with modernized facilities.

• Cinema screenings

• Four-screen cinema complex

1. 1Odeon Cinema, Sutton Coldfield - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Royal Cinema, Sutton Coldfield - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org