Odeon Luxe Leicester Square

Odeon Luxe Leicester Square is a flagship cinema in London's West End, occupying the centre of the eastern side of Leicester Square. It is one of the most prominent buildings associated with the Odeon cinema chain and is widely used for major film premieres, European and international launches, and the annual Royal Film Performance. Its distinctive black polished-granite facade, tall illuminated tower and blue neon outlining make it one of Leicester Square's most recognisable entertainment venues. The building was completed in 1937 for Oscar Deutsch's Odeon Cinemas. Sir Robert McAlpine constructed the cinema to designs by Harry Weedon and Andrew Mather on a site that had previously contained Victorian Turkish baths and the Alhambra Theatre, a nineteenth-century music-hall venue. The project took seven months to build. At opening, the cinema had 2,116 seats and presented The Prisoner of Zenda on 2 November 1937. Its scale, central location and architectural treatment were intended to establish it as the flagship of the rapidly expanding Odeon chain. The venue has repeatedly served as a showcase for changes in cinema technology. In 1953 it installed the United Kingdom's first widescreen display using a 1.66:1 ratio, followed later that year by the country's public debut of CinemaScope. The cinema's technical infrastructure has continued to evolve, while successive refurbishments have altered and, in some cases, recreated elements of the original Art Deco interior. A 1967 modernisation removed much of the original ribbed plasterwork, while a 1998 refurbishment reintroduced versions of several lost decorative features and restored the characteristic seating pattern. Additional small auditoria opened in April 1990 in a former alleyway beside the main house. Originally called Odeon Mezzanine and later Odeon Studios, these spaces were renamed Screens 2–5 after the 2018 redevelopment, when the number and capacity of the smaller screens were reduced. The main auditorium remained the architectural and ceremonial centre of the venue. The most substantial recent intervention began in January 2018, when the cinema closed for a comprehensive refurbishment. The project was reported as having a projected cost of approximately £10 million to £15 million, although the available reference material does not establish a final cost. The redevelopment preserved the building's single-screen character while introducing luxury seating, upgraded concessions and modern projection and sound systems. The cinema reopened on 21 December 2018 as part of the Odeon Luxe format. It also became the first commercial Dolby Cinema in the United Kingdom, combining Dolby Vision dual-laser projection with Dolby Atmos sound. Today the venue operates as both a public cinema and a specialist events location. Its business scope includes theatrical film exhibition, premium-format screenings, premieres, red-carpet events, private hire and other film-related functions. The Leicester Square site remains particularly valuable to Odeon because it combines a high-profile central London location, heritage architecture, premium cinema technology and a long-established association with the British and international film industries.

Odeon Luxe Leicester Square opened in 1937 as the Odeon Leicester Square during the rapid growth of the Odeon cinema circuit. The Odeon chain was created in the 1930s by Oscar Deutsch and expanded through purpose-built cinemas in prominent British towns and cities. The Leicester Square site was conceived as a major central London picture palace and occupied a particularly important position in the capital's entertainment geography. Its location made it suitable not only for ordinary theatrical exhibition but also for premieres, gala screenings and other publicity events. Leicester Square became a major destination for the film business, and the Odeon venue developed a long association with the launch of prominent British and international releases. The cinema's public identity was consequently tied to both its regular programme and its role as a ceremonial venue for the industry. The original cinema operated through several periods of change in film exhibition, including the transition from single-screen picture palaces toward multiplex competition, the adoption of digital projection and the growing use of premium formats. Despite those changes, the Leicester Square site retained a distinctive status because of its central location and premiere history. The venue was closed in the 2010s for an extensive redevelopment. The project transformed the customer proposition from a large traditional cinema toward an upscale, lower-capacity experience. It reopened in 2018 as Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, with luxury reclining seating and upgraded technical and guest facilities. Large-format programming, including IMAX presentations, became part of its premium offer. The redevelopment was consistent with Odeon's wider introduction of the Luxe concept, which emphasized comfort and service as ways to distinguish cinema-going from home viewing. Today the venue remains part of Odeon Cinemas Group rather than an autonomous company. Odeon Cinemas Group operates under the ownership of AMC Entertainment Holdings. Odeon Luxe Leicester Square continues to combine everyday commercial screenings with special-event programming and major premieres. Its importance rests on the combination of a historic Odeon identity, a flagship West End address and a contemporary premium cinema format.

• 2018

  Reopens as Odeon Luxe Leicester Square

  The refurbished venue reopens with the Odeon Luxe name, premium reclining seating and upgraded large-format presentation.

• 2016

  Venue closes for redevelopment

  The cinema closes for a major refurbishment and modernization project.

• 1937

  Odeon Leicester Square opens

  The cinema opens in London's Leicester Square as a major venue in the expanding Odeon circuit.

Premium and event-led cinema venue in London's West End

• Cinema exhibition · 1937

  Mainstream theatrical film screenings

  The venue's core activity is the public screening of current theatrical releases. Its programme is centered on major studio films, prominent British productions and other commercially distributed titles shown during their cinema release windows.

• Premium cinema · 2018

  Odeon Luxe experience

  The Odeon Luxe proposition emphasizes comfort and a more premium customer experience. At Leicester Square this includes reclining seats, greater personal space and upgraded auditorium and guest facilities compared with a conventional cinema layout.

• Large-format cinema

  IMAX presentations

  The venue offers selected films in IMAX or other large-format presentation configurations when scheduled. These screenings are particularly relevant to effects-driven blockbusters, event releases and films marketed around an enhanced theatrical image and sound experience.

• Film events · 1937

  Premiere and event screenings

  Odeon Luxe Leicester Square is used for premieres, gala screenings and industry-facing events. These occasions combine the cinema's exhibition role with red-carpet publicity and make the venue an important presentation site for distributors and studios promoting major releases in London.

• 2018

  Launch of the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square formatProduct launch

  Background

  Odeon was extending its Luxe premium-cinema concept to one of its most prominent historic locations.

  Action taken

  The refurbished cinema reopened under the Odeon Luxe name with reclining seating, upgraded presentation and premium event positioning.

  Aftermath

  The venue combined luxury cinema amenities with the established Leicester Square tradition of high-profile premieres and major releases.

• 2016

  Redevelopment of the Leicester Square flagshipStrategy

  Background

  The historic venue required modernization as cinema exhibition increasingly competed with home entertainment and as operators expanded premium seating and large-format propositions.

  Action taken

  Odeon closed the cinema for a substantial refurbishment and converted it into a more premium Odeon Luxe venue.

  Aftermath

  The cinema reopened in 2018 with a smaller, comfort-focused auditorium and upgraded facilities while retaining its role as a major London premiere venue.