York's revamped Odeon cinema all ready to reopen on Friday (From York Press)

York's revamped Odeon cinema all ready to reopen on Friday

9:29am Tuesday 16th June 2009 in News By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk

YORK’S revamped Odeon cinema will unveil its new look on Friday – bringing an end to a three-year wait for the city centre picturehouse to reopen.

An army of workers are this week putting the finishing touches to the refurbishment of the art deco building in Blossom Street, which will throw open its doors at a glittering relaunch including the screening of blockbuster summer movie Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen.

The man behind the project to breathe new life into the Odeon has revealed its owners, Reel Cinema (UK) Ltd, will be offering cut-price ticket deals to “reward the loyalty and support” of the people of York once it is up and running again.

Kailash Suri, the company’s managing director, says he hopes to introduce movie clubs for children, mothers and toddlers, senior citizens, teenagers and families following the reopening.

Operating under the name Reel York, the cinema will employ 30 to 35 staff.

“I have never seen so much public support for one of our projects as we have in York – it has been extraordinary and has made us feel very special,” he said.

“But with that comes a responsibility to live up to expectations. Our workers have been fantastic on a very difficult project and have put their heart and soul into it because we want to give York 110 per cent.

“To show how strongly we feel about the cinema’s long-term future, we have looked closely at our pricing structure, because we want people to visit more than a couple of times a year and create a loyalty factor, which is why we have introduced ticket prices which are aimed at being cheaper than our competitors “We hope this will encourage people to enjoy themselves in the current economic climate and feel this is their cinema – that is the whole purpose behind it. I am delighted with the way it looks – it will be a very grand place where everything has been done with style, and hopefully our customers will feel the same way because they deserve it.

“We want the cinema to be successful and commercially viable, and if profit comes that is the icing on the cake. But for that to happen, we need a lot of support.”

Reel will give away 100 free tickets for the cinema’s reopening on Friday, which will start with a drinks reception being held at 7pm.

There will also be musical entertainment and special guests. The Transformers movie will be shown in its 880-seat main auditorium and other screens will be showing Terminator: Salvation, Red Cliff, Night At The Museum 2 and Hannah Montana The Movie.

As well as installing new screens, the refurbishment has involved completely replacing toilet facilities, restoring and replacing seats, installing a new ticket and merchandise kiosk and creating a new canopy outside the building, which will retain its original Odeon sign. For more details about the reopening, log on to www.reelcinemas.co.uk

Prices at Reel York

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday before 5pm
Adults: £4.50.

Children/OAPs: £3.50.

Students: £4.

Family ticket (two adults and two children): £14.

Friday after 5pm, Saturday, Sunday
Adults: £5.

Children/OAPs: £4.

Students: £4.50.

Family ticket: £16.

Reel Wednesday
£3 all day, with family tickets costing £12.