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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
636:
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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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534:. 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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
436:. 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
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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
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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
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334:. 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.
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to three Irish investors in February 2006, though continued to operate as part of the Odeon chain. Ownership subsequently passed to the Irish
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hotel group. It closed as a cinema on 1 January 2015. After extensive asbestos removal, the entire site was demolished the same year.
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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.
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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
411:. County Cinemas had commissioned architect Alister G. MacDonald to re-design the entrance and the interior was re-designed by
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sold the building to three Irish investors in 2006, who continued to lease it. In 2012, it was bought by the
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was one of the directors) and it became the first West End Cinema to be controlled by what would become the
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423:, singing "Just Like the Ivy", was one of the artistes appearing. This policy lasted for almost a year.
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The Leicester Square Theatre re-opened on 12 December 1968 with a Royal Charity Premiere attended by
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played as a 'roadshow' presentation from 11 October 1962 until 4 September 1963. The UK premiere of
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was held here on 26 October 1967. The Leicester Square Theatre was closed on 3 April 1968 with
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415:. A revolve was installed in the centre of the stage at this time. It closed in July 1932 and
618:. The Odeon West End re-opened on 11 October 1991 with screen 1 upstairs seating 503 playing
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was held here on 26 July 1951. Further repairs were carried out in 1955. The UK premiere of
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opened here on 17 December 1964 and played for several weeks before transferring to the
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print until 24 December, and was replaced by a digital copy for its final seven days.
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It was renamed Odeon West End from 22 July 1988 with the opening of the comedy film
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presentations. Over the following 48 years it hosted many film premieres, including
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988:"Movie Theaters Designed by Cassidy, Farrington & Dennys - Cinema Treasures"
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880:"Leicester Square Hotel | London Hotel Development | Edwardian Group"
906:"New 350 room hotel with world's deepest basement to open in Leicester Square"
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292:. The site is on an adjacent side of the square to the much larger flagship
1015:"Remaining fragments of the Leicester Square Theatre's original auditorium"
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and screen 2 downstairs opening on 1 November 1991 with 848 seats playing
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962:"Movie Theaters Designed by Arnold Dick Associates - Cinema Treasures"
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The Music Hall and Theatre History Website: Leicester Square Theatre
1133:"REVEALED: this year's BFI London Film Festival venue partners #LFF"
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1046:"Leicester Square Odeon sold by Irish debt agency to hotel group"
261:
Screen 1 (Dolby): 168 seats (166 recliners, 2 wheelchair spaces)
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print of the film. The cinema, in its later years, was also the
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took place in August 1955, and it ran here for thirteen weeks.
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appeared for a week 'twice-nightly' as a prelude to her film
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The cinema has two screens. The main auditorium features a
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The Leicester Square Theatre was built for actor/film star
821:"Edwardian digs UK's deepest hotel in Leicester Square"
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run with less than 10 people attending each screening.
263:
Screen 2: 72 seats (70 recliners, 2 wheelchair spaces)
854:"ODEON announces opening of new ODEON Luxe West End"
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Buildings and structures in the City of Westminster
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1076:"Leicester Square's Odeon cinema to be demolished"
363:supported by a stage dance production including
682:, showing in screen 1 upstairs (489-seats) and
371:and the Victoria Girls. It was equipped with a
1227:Tourist attractions in the City of Westminster
688:, showing in screen 2 downstairs (814-seats).
612:. It closed for twinning on 11 July 1991 with
8:
281:is a two-screen cinema on the south side of
640:The Odeon West End had an exclusive run of
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780:– former large cinema in London's West End
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426:The theatre was then taken over again by
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1086:from the original on 26 September 2015
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552:Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
224:Arnold Dick Associates (1968 rebuild)
1056:from the original on 26 February 2015
994:from the original on 30 November 2016
968:from the original on 30 November 2016
942:from the original on 30 November 2016
932:"Music Hall Songs: Just Like the Ivy"
679:The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
7:
1181:"Pictures and Photos - Getty Images"
831:from the original on 2 November 2019
1112:from the original on 12 August 2021
1044:Ruddick, Graham (30 January 2012).
1025:from the original on 29 August 2017
912:from the original on 12 August 2021
886:from the original on 12 August 2021
860:from the original on 24 August 2021
382:It was taken over in March 1931 by
1161:from the original on 10 March 2012
347:and the opening programme was the
14:
1106:"The Londoner, Leicester Square"
667:National Asset Management Agency
646:from 2 November 2012, playing a
518:. The European Gala Premiere of
52:
45:
29:
1155:"BFI London Film Festival 2021"
819:Reid, Jenni (9 November 2018).
669:and in 2012 it was sold to the
1242:1930 establishments in England
630:. In 2008, the UK premiere of
1:
1013:Lloyd, Matthew (July 2009).
799:"ODEON Luxe London West End"
294:Odeon Luxe Leicester Square
238:Cast & Crew Screenings
187:April 2015 - September 2021
183:April 1968 - December 1968
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35:Odeon Luxe West End (2021)
451:General Film Distributors
185:July 1991 - October 1991
70:Leicester Square Theatre
40:
28:
16:Cinema in London, England
712:cinema in the basement.
706:Westminster City Council
521:The Happiest Millionaire
472:The Flame of New Orleans
240:BFI London Film Festival
1131:@BFI (23 August 2021).
692:had been screened in a
543:and 507 in the circle.
208:Design and construction
728:
603:
602:Odeon West End in 2012
568:. It was equipped for
727:
661:The site was sold by
601:
408:In a Monastery Garden
805:on 7 September 2021.
760:2012 film adaptation
743:laser projector and
656:London Film Festival
654:base for the annual
290:London Film Festival
216:Andrew Mather (1930)
1185:www.gettyimages.com
1082:. 21 January 2014.
584:in March 1975, and
489:Alice in Wonderland
482:The UK premiere of
279:Odeon Luxe West End
226:Arup (2021 rebuild)
152: /
82:Architectural style
77:General information
24:Odeon Luxe West End
1019:Arthur Lloyd.co.uk
856:. 23 August 2021.
825:Business Traveller
729:
604:
439:Victoria the Great
433:That's a Good Girl
393:Sally in Our Alley
384:RKO Radio Pictures
304:Radisson Edwardian
236:Public Screenings
156:51.5099°N 0.1303°W
1222:Cinemas in London
778:Odeon Marble Arch
704:In January 2014,
615:The Pope Must Die
496:'s production of
459:Rank Organisation
375:3 Manual/10 Rank
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245:Other information
221:Architecture firm
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1232:Leicester Square
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801:. Archived from
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633:Sex and the City
587:Crocodile Dundee
494:Laurence Olivier
461:in later years.
386:. In July 1931,
283:Leicester Square
258:Seating capacity
175:19 December 1930
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161:51.5099; -0.1303
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908:. 7 July 2021.
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671:Radisson Hotels
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578:in March 1974,
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531:Carry On Doctor
516:Odeon Haymarket
505:The Longest Day
467:
357:Viennese Nights
349:Warner Brothers
345:Warner Brothers
330:and impresario
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1139:) – via
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453:took control (
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1163:. Retrieved
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914:. Retrieved
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888:. Retrieved
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862:. Retrieved
833:. Retrieved
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803:the original
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763:
754:remaster of
752:Dolby Cinema
749:
741:Dolby Vision
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690:Interstellar
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685:Interstellar
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511:Mary Poppins
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398:Jack Hulbert
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311:Dolby Cinema
308:
298:
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276:
250:Seating type
213:Architect(s)
117:Town or city
67:Former names
18:
1090:25 February
1060:25 February
998:30 November
972:30 November
946:30 November
745:Dolby Atmos
564:, starring
499:Richard III
484:Walt Disney
444:Anna Neagle
442:, starring
403:John Stuart
353:Technicolor
159: /
134:Coordinates
1211:Categories
785:References
756:Tom Hooper
700:Demolition
643:The Master
627:Twenty-One
234:Premieres
144:51°30′36″N
1165:24 August
1116:12 August
1029:28 August
916:12 August
890:12 August
864:24 August
835:7 January
720:Reopening
673:company.
594:1988–2015
590:in 1986.
538:1968–1988
524:starring
465:1940–1967
449:In 1938,
373:Wurlitzer
359:starring
351:two-tone
322:1930–1940
253:Recliners
231:Known for
180:Renovated
147:0°07′49″W
1159:Archived
1110:Archived
1084:Archived
1080:BBC News
1054:Archived
1023:Archived
992:Archived
966:Archived
940:Archived
910:Archived
884:Archived
858:Archived
829:Archived
772:See also
652:West End
575:Papillon
98:Location
85:Art Deco
1141:Twitter
747:audio.
561:Shalako
365:Balliol
336:NatWest
317:History
271:Offsite
268:Parking
125:Country
106:Address
369:Merton
192:Client
172:Opened
120:London
101:London
93:Cinema
1137:Tweet
710:Odeon
581:Tommy
355:film
200:Owner
1167:2021
1118:2021
1092:2015
1062:2015
1031:2017
1000:2016
974:2016
948:2016
918:2021
892:2021
866:2021
837:2020
734:Arup
694:70mm
648:70mm
570:70mm
554:and
367:and
277:The
758:'s
558:of
486:'s
405:in
287:BFI
109:38
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