610:
58:
736:
42:
65:
353:
Designed by architect Andrew Mather, the
Leicester Square Theatre was intended as a live theatre, but there were problems acquiring adjacent properties and the stage space proved insufficient. It opened on 19 December 1930 as a dual-purpose live theatre/cinema with 1,760 seats in stalls, dress circle
647:
saw the film play in both auditoriums with every single session selling out. Sometimes, the film distributors would force the Odeon film bookings department to play less than popular movies as they were contracted to play a certain number of films at Odeon West End each year. Quite often, shows were
553:
Architects Arnold Dick
Associates designed a new ‘modern style’ single screen cinema within the shell of the building, with a stalls and circle seating areas (removing the upper balcony) and the interior design was by Cassidy, Farrington and Dennys. Seating was provided for 1,407: 900 in the stalls
557:
Most of the detailed French
Renaissance style interior was stripped out, with only the ceiling in particular retained, albeit punctured by steelwork and hidden from view by a new lower ceiling, ultimately falling into a state of disrepair with sections of moulded plasterwork coming away.
354:
and balcony levels. There were three boxes adjacent to each side of the proscenium at dress circle level, but these were only used during live performances. The foyer walls were decorated with polished black marble. The first operators were
349:
later occupied this as their main London offices spread over two floors, but vacated it in the early 2000s and was damaged by squatters a few years later with graffiti everywhere, ceiling tiles punched out and carpet ripped up.
1064:
742:
The cinema reopened in
September 2021 as the Odeon Luxe West End, occupying the basement of The Londoner, a new boutique hotel with six underground floors as well as nine above-ground. The redevelopment was undertaken by
726:
Odeon cinema staff had four days to remove their equipment from the building, which was handed over to the demolition contractors on 5 January 2015, and demolition began in April 2015 and was completed in
September 2015.
411:
song and dance show 'The R.K.O. Loudspeakers' was staged as part of the film programme in August 1931. It was taken over by County
Cinemas and renamed Olympic Theatre from 21 March 1932, re-opening with
1033:
839:
1056:
545:. The cinema was to undergo a complete interior refurbishment. The Wurlitzer organ, which was played at special organ concerts right up to closing, was also removed from the building.
430:
took control again. In August 1932, films were dropped in favour of non-stop variety, which began with Non-Stop Revels live on stage, non-stop from two 'til midnight daily.
1227:
320:
It reopened in
September 2021 as an Odeon Luxe cinema, following a £300 million redevelopment of the site that also includes a luxury hotel. It is London's second
1237:
687:
A new set of plans for a hotel were approved by
Westminster Council on 21 January 2014, and the Odeon West End closed on 1 January 2015. The final films were
920:
441:
and on 27 September 1933 re-opened as a full-time cinema, once more re-named the
Leicester Square Theatre, with Jack Buchanan's own film for United Artists
447:. It played United Artists pictures first run in London until it was closed again on 18 July 1937 for redecoration. It re-opened on 16 September 1937 with
1025:
761:
The Odeon Luxe West End was one of seven London venues that hosted the BFI London Film
Festival 2021. The theater also hosted the premiere of the 2024
719:
approved a plan by Radisson Hotels to demolish the building and replace it with an eight-storey 360-room hotel, which would also include a two-screen
831:
151:
345:. Buchanan had a large two-storey apartment built on top of the theatre, which he occupied until it was damaged by bombing in late October 1940.
894:
676:
to three Irish investors in February 2006, though continued to operate as part of the Odeon chain. Ownership subsequently passed to the Irish
950:
57:
868:
317:
hotel group. It closed as a cinema on 1 January 2015. After extensive asbestos removal, the entire site was demolished the same year.
1094:
490:
Odeon Theatres Ltd. took over in July 1946, and they closed it in July 1950 for some repairs to be carried out to the war damage.
1252:
562:
480:
The cinema was closed for almost a year from late-October 1940 when it suffered bomb damage. It re-opened on 11 July 1941 with
422:. County Cinemas had commissioned architect Alister G. MacDonald to re-design the entrance and the interior was re-designed by
809:
1002:
976:
689:
1120:
677:
916:
1169:
499:
609:
403:
17:
314:
313:
sold the building to three Irish investors in 2006, who continued to lease it. In 2012, it was bought by the
770:
468:
was one of the directors) and it became the first West End Cinema to be controlled by what would become the
418:
144:
304:
775:
434:, singing "Just Like the Ivy", was one of the artistes appearing. This policy lasted for almost a year.
1232:
1242:
561:
The Leicester Square Theatre re-opened on 12 December 1968 with a Royal Charity Premiere attended by
461:
890:
716:
631:
531:
519:
played as a 'roadshow' presentation from 11 October 1962 until 4 September 1963. The UK premiere of
482:
942:
643:
509:
375:
1247:
864:
653:
637:
539:
was held here on 26 October 1967. The Leicester Square Theatre was closed on 3 April 1968 with
515:
379:
297:
1191:
426:. A revolve was installed in the centre of the stage at this time. It closed in July 1932 and
629:. The Odeon West End re-opened on 11 October 1991 with screen 1 upstairs seating 503 playing
443:
503:
was held here on 26 July 1951. Further repairs were carried out in 1955. The UK premiere of
1147:
666:
585:
300:
1212:
296:, London. It has historically been used for smaller film premieres and hosting the annual
8:
695:
521:
413:
1086:
525:
opened here on 17 December 1964 and played for several weeks before transferring to the
744:
662:
449:
394:
707:
print until 24 December, and was replaced by a digital copy for its final seven days.
788:
625:
591:
469:
1165:
617:
It was renamed Odeon West End from 22 July 1988 with the opening of the comedy film
583:
presentations. Over the following 48 years it hosted many film premieres, including
813:
597:
504:
293:
121:
998:
972:
681:
541:
526:
367:
359:
355:
999:"Movie Theaters Designed by Cassidy, Farrington & Dennys - Cinema Treasures"
1143:
891:"Leicester Square Hotel | London Hotel Development | Edwardian Group"
735:
619:
571:
465:
438:
423:
371:
342:
917:"New 350 room hotel with world's deepest basement to open in Leicester Square"
1221:
1116:
720:
673:
487:
431:
427:
398:
387:
338:
310:
166:
153:
303:. The site is on an adjacent side of the square to the much larger flagship
1026:"Remaining fragments of the Leicester Square Theatre's original auditorium"
762:
751:
576:
566:
536:
408:
321:
635:
and screen 2 downstairs opening on 1 November 1991 with 848 seats playing
755:
494:
454:
363:
766:
973:"Movie Theaters Designed by Arnold Dick Associates - Cinema Treasures"
41:
383:
1213:
The Music Hall and Theatre History Website: Leicester Square Theatre
1144:"REVEALED: this year's BFI London Film Festival venue partners #LFF"
1151:
1057:"Leicester Square Odeon sold by Irish debt agency to hotel group"
346:
272:
Screen 1 (Dolby): 168 seats (166 recliners, 2 wheelchair spaces)
661:
print of the film. The cinema, in its later years, was also the
513:
took place in August 1955, and it ran here for thirteen weeks.
401:
appeared for a week 'twice-nightly' as a prelude to her film
750:
The cinema has two screens. The main auditorium features a
704:
658:
580:
337:
The Leicester Square Theatre was built for actor/film star
832:"Edwardian digs UK's deepest hotel in Leicester Square"
648:
run with less than 10 people attending each screening.
274:
Screen 2: 72 seats (70 recliners, 2 wheelchair spaces)
865:"ODEON announces opening of new ODEON Luxe West End"
1228:
Buildings and structures in the City of Westminster
1087:"Leicester Square's Odeon cinema to be demolished"
1219:
374:supported by a stage dance production including
693:, showing in screen 1 upstairs (489-seats) and
382:and the Victoria Girls. It was equipped with a
1238:Tourist attractions in the City of Westminster
699:, showing in screen 2 downstairs (814-seats).
623:. It closed for twinning on 11 July 1991 with
292:is a two-screen cinema on the south side of
651:The Odeon West End had an exclusive run of
64:
791:– former large cinema in London's West End
437:The theatre was then taken over again by
734:
608:
1054:
825:
823:
14:
1220:
1097:from the original on 26 September 2015
859:
857:
563:Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
235:Arnold Dick Associates (1968 rebuild)
1067:from the original on 26 February 2015
1023:
1005:from the original on 30 November 2016
979:from the original on 30 November 2016
953:from the original on 30 November 2016
943:"Music Hall Songs: Just Like the Ivy"
690:The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
1192:"Pictures and Photos - Getty Images"
842:from the original on 2 November 2019
829:
820:
1141:
1123:from the original on 12 August 2021
1055:Ruddick, Graham (30 January 2012).
1036:from the original on 29 August 2017
923:from the original on 12 August 2021
897:from the original on 12 August 2021
871:from the original on 24 August 2021
854:
393:It was taken over in March 1931 by
24:
1172:from the original on 10 March 2012
358:and the opening programme was the
25:
1264:
1206:
1117:"The Londoner, Leicester Square"
678:National Asset Management Agency
657:from 2 November 2012, playing a
529:. The European Gala Premiere of
63:
56:
40:
1184:
1166:"BFI London Film Festival 2021"
1158:
1135:
1109:
1079:
1048:
830:Reid, Jenni (9 November 2018).
680:and in 2012 it was sold to the
1253:1930 establishments in England
1017:
991:
965:
935:
909:
883:
802:
641:. In 2008, the UK premiere of
13:
1:
795:
710:
1024:Lloyd, Matthew (July 2009).
810:"ODEON Luxe London West End"
730:
604:
548:
475:
332:
7:
782:
305:Odeon Luxe Leicester Square
249:Cast & Crew Screenings
198:April 2015 - September 2021
194:April 1968 - December 1968
10:
1269:
327:
46:Odeon Luxe West End (2021)
462:General Film Distributors
278:
268:
260:
255:
241:
231:
223:
218:
210:
202:
196:July 1991 - October 1991
190:
182:
143:
135:
127:
116:
108:
100:
92:
87:
81:Leicester Square Theatre
77:
51:
39:
34:
27:Cinema in London, England
723:cinema in the basement.
717:Westminster City Council
532:The Happiest Millionaire
483:The Flame of New Orleans
251:BFI London Film Festival
1142:@BFI (23 August 2021).
703:had been screened in a
554:and 507 in the circle.
219:Design and construction
739:
614:
613:Odeon West End in 2012
579:. It was equipped for
738:
672:The site was sold by
612:
419:In a Monastery Garden
816:on 7 September 2021.
771:2012 film adaptation
754:laser projector and
667:London Film Festival
665:base for the annual
301:London Film Festival
227:Andrew Mather (1930)
1196:www.gettyimages.com
1093:. 21 January 2014.
595:in March 1975, and
500:Alice in Wonderland
493:The UK premiere of
290:Odeon Luxe West End
237:Arup (2021 rebuild)
163: /
93:Architectural style
88:General information
35:Odeon Luxe West End
1030:Arthur Lloyd.co.uk
867:. 23 August 2021.
836:Business Traveller
740:
615:
450:Victoria the Great
444:That's a Good Girl
404:Sally in Our Alley
395:RKO Radio Pictures
315:Radisson Edwardian
247:Public Screenings
167:51.5099°N 0.1303°W
1233:Cinemas in London
789:Odeon Marble Arch
715:In January 2014,
626:The Pope Must Die
507:'s production of
470:Rank Organisation
386:3 Manual/10 Rank
286:
285:
256:Other information
232:Architecture firm
16:(Redirected from
1260:
1243:Leicester Square
1200:
1199:
1188:
1182:
1181:
1179:
1177:
1162:
1156:
1155:
1139:
1133:
1132:
1130:
1128:
1113:
1107:
1106:
1104:
1102:
1083:
1077:
1076:
1074:
1072:
1052:
1046:
1045:
1043:
1041:
1021:
1015:
1014:
1012:
1010:
995:
989:
988:
986:
984:
969:
963:
962:
960:
958:
947:Monologues.co.uk
939:
933:
932:
930:
928:
913:
907:
906:
904:
902:
887:
881:
880:
878:
876:
861:
852:
851:
849:
847:
827:
818:
817:
812:. Archived from
806:
644:Sex and the City
598:Crocodile Dundee
505:Laurence Olivier
472:in later years.
397:. In July 1931,
294:Leicester Square
269:Seating capacity
186:19 December 1930
178:
177:
175:
174:
173:
172:51.5099; -0.1303
168:
164:
161:
160:
159:
156:
122:Leicester Square
67:
66:
60:
44:
32:
31:
21:
1268:
1267:
1263:
1262:
1261:
1259:
1258:
1257:
1218:
1217:
1209:
1204:
1203:
1190:
1189:
1185:
1175:
1173:
1164:
1163:
1159:
1140:
1136:
1126:
1124:
1115:
1114:
1110:
1100:
1098:
1085:
1084:
1080:
1070:
1068:
1053:
1049:
1039:
1037:
1022:
1018:
1008:
1006:
997:
996:
992:
982:
980:
971:
970:
966:
956:
954:
941:
940:
936:
926:
924:
919:. 7 July 2021.
915:
914:
910:
900:
898:
889:
888:
884:
874:
872:
863:
862:
855:
845:
843:
828:
821:
808:
807:
803:
798:
785:
773:of the musical
733:
713:
682:Radisson Hotels
607:
589:in March 1974,
551:
542:Carry On Doctor
527:Odeon Haymarket
516:The Longest Day
478:
368:Viennese Nights
360:Warner Brothers
356:Warner Brothers
341:and impresario
335:
330:
273:
250:
248:
246:
236:
214:Edwardian Group
197:
195:
171:
169:
165:
162:
157:
154:
152:
150:
149:
82:
73:
72:
71:
70:
69:
68:
47:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1266:
1256:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1216:
1215:
1208:
1207:External links
1205:
1202:
1201:
1183:
1157:
1150:) – via
1134:
1108:
1078:
1047:
1016:
990:
964:
934:
908:
882:
853:
819:
800:
799:
797:
794:
793:
792:
784:
781:
776:Les Miserables
732:
729:
712:
709:
620:The Couch Trip
606:
603:
550:
547:
477:
474:
466:J. Arthur Rank
464:took control (
439:United Artists
424:Edward Carrick
372:Vivienne Segal
343:Walter Gibbons
334:
331:
329:
326:
284:
283:
280:
276:
275:
270:
266:
265:
262:
258:
257:
253:
252:
243:
239:
238:
233:
229:
228:
225:
221:
220:
216:
215:
212:
208:
207:
204:
200:
199:
192:
188:
187:
184:
180:
179:
147:
141:
140:
139:United Kingdom
137:
133:
132:
129:
125:
124:
118:
114:
113:
110:
106:
105:
102:
101:Classification
98:
97:
94:
90:
89:
85:
84:
83:Odeon West End
79:
75:
74:
62:
61:
55:
54:
53:
52:
49:
48:
45:
37:
36:
26:
18:Odeon West End
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1265:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1248:Odeon Cinemas
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1225:
1223:
1214:
1211:
1210:
1197:
1193:
1187:
1171:
1167:
1161:
1153:
1149:
1145:
1138:
1122:
1118:
1112:
1096:
1092:
1088:
1082:
1066:
1062:
1061:The Telegraph
1058:
1051:
1035:
1031:
1027:
1020:
1004:
1000:
994:
978:
974:
968:
952:
948:
944:
938:
922:
918:
912:
896:
892:
886:
870:
866:
860:
858:
841:
837:
833:
826:
824:
815:
811:
805:
801:
790:
787:
786:
780:
778:
777:
772:
768:
764:
759:
757:
753:
748:
746:
737:
728:
724:
722:
718:
708:
706:
702:
698:
697:
692:
691:
685:
683:
679:
675:
674:Odeon Cinemas
670:
668:
664:
660:
656:
655:
649:
646:
645:
640:
639:
634:
633:
628:
627:
622:
621:
611:
602:
600:
599:
594:
593:
588:
587:
582:
578:
574:
573:
568:
564:
559:
555:
546:
544:
543:
538:
534:
533:
528:
524:
523:
518:
517:
512:
511:
506:
502:
501:
496:
491:
489:
488:Oscar Deutsch
485:
484:
473:
471:
467:
463:
458:
456:
452:
451:
446:
445:
440:
435:
433:
432:Marie Kendall
429:
428:Jack Buchanan
425:
421:
420:
415:
410:
406:
405:
400:
399:Gracie Fields
396:
391:
389:
388:theatre organ
385:
381:
377:
373:
369:
365:
361:
357:
351:
348:
344:
340:
339:Jack Buchanan
325:
323:
318:
316:
312:
311:Odeon Cinemas
308:
306:
302:
299:
295:
291:
281:
277:
271:
267:
263:
259:
254:
244:
240:
234:
230:
226:
222:
217:
213:
209:
206:Odeon Cinemas
205:
201:
193:
189:
185:
181:
176:
148:
146:
142:
138:
134:
130:
126:
123:
119:
115:
111:
107:
103:
99:
95:
91:
86:
80:
76:
59:
50:
43:
38:
33:
30:
19:
1195:
1186:
1174:. Retrieved
1160:
1137:
1125:. Retrieved
1111:
1099:. Retrieved
1090:
1081:
1069:. Retrieved
1060:
1050:
1038:. Retrieved
1029:
1019:
1007:. Retrieved
993:
981:. Retrieved
967:
955:. Retrieved
946:
937:
925:. Retrieved
911:
899:. Retrieved
885:
873:. Retrieved
844:. Retrieved
835:
814:the original
804:
774:
765:remaster of
763:Dolby Cinema
760:
752:Dolby Vision
749:
741:
725:
714:
701:Interstellar
700:
696:Interstellar
694:
688:
686:
671:
652:
650:
642:
636:
632:Toy Soldiers
630:
624:
618:
616:
596:
590:
584:
577:Sean Connery
570:
567:Lord Snowdon
560:
556:
552:
540:
537:Tommy Steele
530:
522:Mary Poppins
520:
514:
508:
498:
492:
481:
479:
459:
448:
442:
436:
417:
409:Jack Hulbert
402:
392:
352:
336:
322:Dolby Cinema
319:
309:
289:
287:
261:Seating type
224:Architect(s)
128:Town or city
78:Former names
29:
1101:25 February
1071:25 February
1009:30 November
983:30 November
957:30 November
756:Dolby Atmos
575:, starring
510:Richard III
495:Walt Disney
455:Anna Neagle
453:, starring
414:John Stuart
364:Technicolor
170: /
145:Coordinates
1222:Categories
796:References
767:Tom Hooper
711:Demolition
654:The Master
638:Twenty-One
245:Premieres
155:51°30′36″N
1176:24 August
1127:12 August
1040:28 August
927:12 August
901:12 August
875:24 August
846:7 January
731:Reopening
684:company.
605:1988–2015
601:in 1986.
549:1968–1988
535:starring
476:1940–1967
460:In 1938,
384:Wurlitzer
370:starring
362:two-tone
333:1930–1940
264:Recliners
242:Known for
191:Renovated
158:0°07′49″W
1170:Archived
1121:Archived
1095:Archived
1091:BBC News
1065:Archived
1034:Archived
1003:Archived
977:Archived
951:Archived
921:Archived
895:Archived
869:Archived
840:Archived
783:See also
663:West End
586:Papillon
109:Location
96:Art Deco
1152:Twitter
758:audio.
572:Shalako
376:Balliol
347:NatWest
328:History
282:Offsite
279:Parking
136:Country
117:Address
380:Merton
203:Client
183:Opened
131:London
112:London
104:Cinema
1148:Tweet
721:Odeon
592:Tommy
366:film
211:Owner
1178:2021
1129:2021
1103:2015
1073:2015
1042:2017
1011:2016
985:2016
959:2016
929:2021
903:2021
877:2021
848:2020
745:Arup
705:70mm
659:70mm
581:70mm
565:and
378:and
288:The
769:'s
569:of
497:'s
416:in
298:BFI
120:38
1224::
1194:.
1168:.
1119:.
1089:.
1063:.
1059:.
1032:.
1028:.
1001:.
975:.
949:.
945:.
893:.
856:^
838:.
834:.
822:^
779:.
747:.
669:.
486:.
457:.
407:.
390:.
324:.
307:.
1198:.
1180:.
1154:.
1146:(
1131:.
1105:.
1075:.
1044:.
1013:.
987:.
961:.
931:.
905:.
879:.
850:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
