Odeon entrepreneur Kailash Suri considering York hotel project (From York Press)

Odeon entrepreneur Kailash Suri considering York hotel project

10:20am Monday 18th May 2009 in News By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

THE entrepreneur behind the restoration of York’s last traditional picturehouse revealed today he may also open a hotel in the city.

Kailash Suri said he was actively considering creating a new “three-star hotel with five-star service” along the lines of others already opened in Bradford and Plymouth, and York was a buoyant city, well worth investing in.

Mr Suri, boss of independent cinema company Reel Cinema, also revealed how he took the personal decision to press ahead with the refurbishment of the old Odeon cinema in Blossom Street, despite people telling him he must be “barking”.

He said the enormous auditorium in Odeon One, which had seating for 880 people, reminded him of the atmosphere created in big cinemas in India. It had the potential to become the best cinema in the UK, if not Europe. “It’s the feeling, the space, the way the seating is organised,” he said.

He said the persistent interest in the fate of the cinema of both the people of York and of The Press – which campaigned to keep the Odeon open – had helped nudge him towards pressing ahead with the “substantial” investment in the building. But it was during a visit with his family to York, as he stood and watched a stream of people walking past the cinema, that he made the final decision.

“Twenty-five per cent of people coming to York go along Blossom Street and the city is buoyant,” he said, throwing his support behind The Press’ York Means Business campaign, which aims to focus on positive developments in the local economy and support business investment in the city.

“Some people have said I am barking, that this cinema will lose me a lot of money, but I believe in it,” he said. “I would like the 13,000 people who backed The Press campaign to save the old Odeon cinema to come and use it after we have re-opened it. It will be very much a family cinema, catering for children and their parents, and senior citizens – somewhere many people can walk to, although we will have our own car park for up to 40 vehicles.”

He pledged to retain the big auditorium but said there was space to create an extra two screens downstairs at a later date, making a total of five.

He said the work to restore the cinema had provided work for local firms, such as decorators, and up to 30 permanent jobs would be created. He said Reel would offer “very attractive” ticket prices in its first year after opening as it built up a loyal customer base.