Wherever One Is, In The Uk, One Is Never That Far From A Multiplex

By Author: Tammy Bright
Total Articles: 3
Comment this article

In the '50's to the '80's going to the cinema was a fairly special event. It was often an occasion which involved dressing up and going to a Cinema that usually had only one screen and showed the main attraction once evening during the week and included matinee's on a Saturday with possible 2 evening showings at 6pm and 9pm. On Sunday everything was closed. The movie screening involved a preview or trailers of upcoming movies, a news short, lots of advertisements and often a short item before and interval. The main feature was screened after an interval and most movies were about an hour and a half to 2 hours long.

With the break up of the Vertical Hollywood companies because of antitrust and the encroachment of TV on the audiences multiplexes came onto the scene as a way of getting more bums on seats. In mid 85 the first British multiplex opened in Milton Keynes. This was a major revolution in that it had 10 screens and 2,000 seats. The decision of where to build a multiplex was initially based on the formula of having a catchment of over a million people within a reasonable driving distance of the complex.

The ...
... other revolution was the reconfiguration of the showings. Each screen would show the movie multiple times during the day and evening. They cut out the interval and the newsreel as well as the shorts. Each screen had staggered start times as well so that the front-of-house facilities were not over stretched. At the advertised start times the lights would dim and then a series of advertisements and trailers would precede the feature film.

Not all multiplexes were that big and some were reduced to 4 or 5 screens. But irrespective the chances are good that in any part of the Britain a multiplex is not that far. Within a 30 to 45 minute drive of most places a cinema can be found, with parking facilities or near a public transport network.

What has been happening in the last few years is that the cinema audiences are still dwindling and many of these complexes find that they are underutilized and are looking for other uses.

At the same time many organisations are always looking for a venue for a conference or an AGM or a presentation of some description. Where could be better and more impressive than having it at a auditorium that is set up as an auditorium.

All the seats are spacious enough and comfortable. Everyone will have an adequate view and the audio systems are first rate. Furthermore one is in complete control of the lighting, the Air conditioning. There are restaurants and rest facilities laid on and a proper plush carpet. Plus there is complete up to date.

So Odeon is now offering any one of their 100+ locations country wide as a possibility for Venue Hire. They have over 200,000 seats available countrywide so if one is planning a conference or the private screening of your own in house video as a road show there is a ready made venue which will suit your needs.

Many movie Multiplexes are now offering their cinemas for Venue Hire.