Odeon Leicester Square

The Odeon Luxe Leicester Square stands in the heart of London’s West End, on the eastern side of Leicester Square. Completed in 1937, the building is an Art Deco landmark with a black polished granite façade and a 37-metre tower lit by blue neon at night. It replaced the Alhambra Theatre, a large music hall from the 1850s, and was the flagship of Oscar Deutsch’s Odeon Cinemas chain. The cinema has hosted world film premieres, including the annual Royal Film Performance, and introduced new technologies like the UK’s first widescreen and CinemaScope. The cinema’s interior once featured a ribbed ceiling, concealed lighting, and two bas-relief sculptures of nymphs. A 1967 modernisation removed much of the original detail, but a 1998 refurbishment restored some features. The UK’s first Dolby Cinema opened here in 2018, combining Dolby Vision projection with Dolby Atmos sound. The building has also been recognised for its engineering contributions, with staff awarded MBEs for services to the film industry. Visitors find a grand single-screen auditorium with stalls and circle levels, now reduced in capacity but upgraded for luxury. Four smaller screens, once part of an alleyway extension, remain as Screens 2–5. The exterior’s neon glow draws attention, especially during film premieres. Nearby, statues like Batman on the roof add to the square’s cinematic atmosphere. The building remains a key venue for London’s film culture.