Odeon Luxe West End
London, England
Boxoffice Blue Ribbon 2021 | Renovation
The Odeon Luxe West End stands on the historic site of the former Leicester Square Theatre, which originally opened in 1930 and was designed by architect Andrew Mather. Over the decades, the venue became a cornerstone of London’s cinema culture and hosted the London Film Festival before closing in 2015 following its final screening of Interstellar, presented by Christopher Nolan.
Edwardian Hotels redeveloped the site as The Londoner Hotel, a large mixed-use project described as the world’s first “super-boutique” hotel. Designed to comply with strict height limits and protected sightlines (including views of St. Paul’s Cathedral), much of the building’s offerings are located below ground. The development includes eight basement levels extending approximately 31.5 meters deep, making it one of the deepest habitable commercial basements in London globally. The hotel incorporates approximately 350 guest rooms, multiple restaurants and bars, wellness facilities, a large pillarless ballroom, and extensive event spaces. It is one of London’s most ambitious below-ground constructions, combining state-of-the-art cinema, hospitality, entertainment, and event functions within a compact footprint.
As part of the redevelopment, the new Odeon Luxe West End cinema was constructed within the hotel’s basement, a significant feat of engineering overseen by Arup Engineering. Architecturally, the project, led by Ellis Williams Architects, combines a distinctive ultramarine, blue terracotta façade aboveground with highly complex underground engineering. Reopening in 2021, the cinema features one Dolby Cinema screen with Dolby Vision laser projection and Dolby Atmos sound and a premium screen with laser projection and 7.1 sound, offering one of the most technologically advanced cinema experiences in the U.K. The cinema is designed using an acoustic “box-within-a-box” construction to isolate it from the rest of the building, ensuring minimal noise transmission despite live event and food and beverage spaces above.
KEY FEATURES
- 2 Auditoriums (240 Total Capacity)
- Dolby Cinema with Dolby Vision Dual Laser Projection
- Dolby Atmos Immersive Sound (67 Speakers)
- 4K Laser Projection with 7.1 Surround Sound (Screen 2)
- Luxury Recliner Seating (Camatic & VIP Recliners)
- “Box-in-Box” Acoustic Auditorium Design
- BREEAM Excellent Sustainability Standards
- Oscar’s Bar (Art Deco Lounge)
- Deep Basement Construction (Part of The Londoner Development)
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