Forum Topic

Empire Cinema

I understand that the Empire cinema in Ealing is to be "redeveloped". Does anyone know what is actually going to happen to it?

Simon Measures ● 6417d61 Comments

The elderly audiences at the Waterman's are among the worst offenders when it comes to talking and they do it loudly because they're deaf!

Susan Kelly ● 4850d

Waterman's Cinema in Brentford is an exception. Only grown ups attend.Long may it last before Irish developers knock it down and build luxxy flats for international multi-millionaires in its place.Land Securities (LS) current aspirations for the Ealing Centre cinema site includes 80 flats. This number could rise. As far I can see LS has agreed to participate in a CPO of the site and will at some point submit a Planning Application.  Let's hope that LS follows Benson Elliot's (the new owner of the Arcadia leases) lead and starts talking soon to the Ealing centre residential and business communities about its aspirations for the site.

Eric Alan Leach ● 4850d

Ivory tower?Not everyone wants to attend what has become the hideous experience of modern cinema surrounded by ignorant buffoons talking freely and loudly to their mates throughtout the performance and fiddling with and taking calls on their mobile phones.I once suggested to a young person (not outwardly an uneducated lout by any means) that he should stop talking during a film and his indignant response to me was:"You should learn to share!"

Tony Colliver ● 4850d

Fully agree. Time you visit to avoid the 'innits' and their need to graze constantly and the cinema is a great experience.

Nigel Brooks ● 4850d

In a word YeS.Not everyone wants to live in an ivory tower.

George Knox ● 4850d

Do we realy need a cinema in Ealing?With the 60" televisions in 3D and surround sound how meny people are regulary going to spend £10-£12 each to go to the 'flicks' ?

John Charles Todd ● 4850d

Is what we are getting according to the front page. Sounds very swish. I look forward to it. Not holding my breath, though.

Susan Kelly ● 4851d

Remember the rivalry between the ABC Minors and the Odeon Juniors. ABC Minors had their own song, glow in the dark badges and the like. We at the Odeon got a free hot-dog, Pepsi and card on our birthday. Strange that most Odeon Juniors seemed to have at least two birthdays each year :-)6d for a ticket and 6d for a big bag of chips and 'crackles' from the chippy that was heaving with kids every Saturday lunchtime.

Nigel Brooks ● 4863d

Yes George and Susan, I remember going to the Saturday morning cinemas for 6d with my bros and sisters !!!  It was great fun and we kids used to cheer during the performance when the US cavalry came to the rescue!  Ah. happy days.

Gerry Tan ● 4863d

Perhaps Gerry took a lady friend with him and paid for the popcorn, George.Cinema prices seem to be rising sharply at the moment. The Acton Vue on a weekday afternoon has shot up from £6.45 to £8.10 in the last few weeks.

Susan Kelly ● 4863d

As much as 1s/9d?9d in my day. Perhaps I started early.

George Knox ● 4864d

ow that's weird my reply didn't post.Captain Bullet aka King of the Rocket Men a stalwart of 'Saturday morning pictures'.A B&W serial, a bit like a poor man's Flash Gordon (although we got that as well), it was shown before the main feature which was either from the Childrens' Film Foundation or something like The Man From Uncle movie or Batman.

Nigel Brooks ● 4864d

Pray, who is Capt.Bullet??

Gerry Tan ● 4864d

What? No Captain Bullet? I'm not going.

Nigel Brooks ● 4864d

I'll believe it when I'm sitting in the 1s/9d stalls, chewing my popcorn and watching Gene Autry and Champion just arriving with the US Cavalry around the distant canyon, to the sound of bugles and cheers of the populace in the cinema!I've waited so long - almost given up hope.

Gerry Tan ● 4864d

Has work begun on the site?See front page.

Susan Kelly ● 4864d

"The cinema closed down last night so the redevelopment should start shortly."  (2008 posting)The shops in the parade just beyond the support girders, hoardings and remnants of the nice old Cinema have been blighted for several years now. Coming from the shopping centre (former John Sanders) direction, you cannot even see the parade of shops with all the hoardings protruding and creating an eyesore!However, the full force of planning enforcement is now being brought to bear on Stockwell Pharmacy in the parade! A couple of old metal windows rotted and were replaced. Stockwell are now being threatened with a £20,000 fine and prosecution by Ealing Council having been unable to reinstate the crumbled window frames as they were thrown out by the builders!What with the cinema "structure" and the new totally out of character modern building just erected behind the Victorian Town Hall (a Conservation Area and Listed Building), one is reminded about the saying "Why do you see the speck in your neighbour's eye, but do not notice the beam in your own eye?"V.Mishiku 15/1/12.

Victor Mishiku ● 5190d

The recent statement from Empire, that the work will start "in due course" was rather cool in its tone. I take that to mean that things are going to stall again.

Alex Weel ● 5191d

The front page says that the Council are threatening compulsory purchase again while Empire continue to say that work is about to start ... seriously ... any day now.

Susan Kelly ● 5192d

Any news on this anyone? I heard someone on the bus today say that they spotted a man with a yellow jacket and a hard hat in one of the cabins! I didn't want to get my hopes up.

Faith Wardle ● 5194d

Absolutely: the sooner the better. Let us hope that councillors from all three parties scrutinise the efforts and streamline the process preventing the council officer bureaucrats from hampering the process further.

William J Malmet ● 5225d

I do hope they do commence work soon. Ealing needs a good cinema.

Roberta Stark ● 5225d

On the basis of personal experience I would believe Empire Cinemas over Ealing Council's regeneration/planning/legal departments. A face to face discussion between a commercial customer and Ealing planning can cost hundreds of quid per hour (they just ignore private customers but commercial ones are a fount of beer tokens to be spent at the Red Lion Pub in South Ealing by the Ealing Council legal department). Jobs for the boys/girls in Ealing Council.Will.

William J Malmet ● 5227d

Yes. I believe it intends to. A lot depends on the crazies in the planning and building control (run via regeneration). From personal experience these peopkle say YES and then find reasons to stop you later on to make money for the Council.Will.

William J Malmet ● 5227d

Front page again: press release from Empire claims they will start building in the new year. Do we believe them?

Susan Kelly ● 5227d

Still best not to hold your breath.

Susan Kelly ● 5243d

Hmmmm...haven't we been at this stage before?

Eric Alan Leach ● 5244d

Front page story: the council have cleared all paperwork. It's now up to Empire to start building.

Susan Kelly ● 5244d

Just had an email from the cinema campaign saying that Empire have agreed to start work this autumn and say building will take 60 weeks.I shan't hold my breath then.

Susan Kelly ● 5308d

Why not go to the Watermans instead. great little place.

Peter Chadburn ● 6372d

It's full of feral teens who seem to get into every film regardless of certificate or likely interest for them. They all seem to buy large tubs of pop corn which after noisily crunching through for half the film they drop on the floor and step on loudly for the other half. Staff aren't really interested in disruption during performances. The food sold at all of the concessions is totally inedible and the bowling alley is just a wall of noise guaranteed to give you a headache.If you have had the good fortune never to have been there don't change things.

Paul Cavanagh ● 6372d

I've been going since it opened about ten years ago but went there on Tuesday and it was like a wasteland. None of the ticket machines was working and the box office closed ages ago so I had to queue at the 'concession stand' for a ticket; half the lavatories were out of order. I saw two members of staff the whole time I was there. It was grim and How to Lose Friends isn't very funny.

Susan Kelly ● 6382d

Never been there. What's the problem with it ?

Pat Kingham ● 6382d

What even like the one at Park Royal! That's hell on earth.

Paul Cavanagh ● 6382d

I would be happy with any kind of cinema in Ealing.

Pat Kingham ● 6385d

I have no quarrel with a multiplex so long as it shows independent films as well as the blockbusters, like the Vue in the Bush, rather than the one in Park Royal.Westfield is a few stops on the tube only if you live near the central line stations.

Susan Kelly ● 6385d

The complex in Westfield will just be a few stops on the tube so no traffic to worry about. Ealing would be better served by a cinema showing better quality releases like the Gate or the Coronet in Notting Hill rather than a multiplex showing the same old blockbusters.

Paul Cavanagh ● 6385d

I don't go to the SB Vue unless there's a film there which is on nowhere else; even less likely to go to Westfield. Why would I battle my way through all that traffic when the Empire is a 20-minute walk away?I'm certain there is a market for a multiplex in Ealing, so long as it shows a good range of films and not just the blockbusters.

Susan Kelly ● 6389d

I used to go when it was possible to park a bit further up the Uxbridge Road but bus lanes and other parking restrictions have made that less feasible. For people to the east the existing cinema in the West 12 shopping centre and the new one in Westfield are likely to be more attractive - with parking too. I'm sure the people who own the Ealing cinema site know this and I doubt they really intend to build a cinema - another commercial/residential development is heading your way.

Andy Jones ● 6390d

This cinema is centrally located and in walking distance of many people's homes.

Philippa Bond ● 6395d

It was demolished the day before the listing was due to take effect.

Alan Brainsby ● 6396d

I don't think Firestone was listed; it was demolished just ahead of the listing.

Susan Kelly ● 6396d

Adding to what eric says, I agree. Ealing cinema has a wonderful front and old brick sides. What's wrong with gutting it and keeping the building. And another question - where are ALL those people going to park to get to a 12 screen cinema! Look at Park Royal!By the way, adding to what Eric wrote in another thread on this same subject, the Firestone factory on the A4 was a listed building and was not to be demolished. 'Someone' went in late one night and smashed most of it rendering it worthy of total demolition and it couldn't be saved. Make your own conclusions as who would have done such a thing!

Verification Required ● 6403d

Thanks for that info Virginia. I am tempted to go and see it again. Apart from the height thing, I found it quite spooky, given their fate, seeing film of the twin towers under construction.

Helen Johnson ● 6407d

What a great story, Helen. It must have made the film even more interesting. Good news is that Watermans is bringing it back at the end of this month: it is on Saturday 27 Sep at 18.30, Monday 29 at 18.45, Wed 1 Oct at 18.45 and Thursday 2 at 14.00 (but best to check times beforehand). I really enjoyed it, even though I have a mild fear of heights and have to admit I got the shivers more than once while watching and indeed afterwards, but this in no way spoilt my  experience of an exciting and unusual film.

Virginia Fassnidge ● 6408d

I am not opposed to the building of a new multi-screen cinema in the centre of Ealing. I'd also like the Empire facade retained and refurbished.

Eric Alan Leach ● 6410d

Sorry, I mean Eric Alan.

Susan Kelly ● 6410d

Are you opposed to the redevelopment, Alan? It sounds like it. Why shouldn't we have a decent cinema in Ealing?

Susan Kelly ● 6410d

Alan Brainsby is correct that there are various planning applications relating to the UGC/Empire Cinema. The most recent one is the one he refers to. However, the application's acceptance was subject to various conditions (three of which amounted to the applicant paying at least £480,000 to Ealing Council).The 12 March, 2008 Council report says:'Although some work was undertaken, the Agreement was never completed.'I can find no evidence on the Council's web site that the Agreement has been signed. From my limited knowledge of these matters, demolition will be illegal without Planning Permission and this permission is dependent on the signing of the Agreement and the payment of £480,000+.

Eric Alan Leach ● 6410d

Since Mark has mentioned Man on Wire - and although a bit off-topic - I can't resist mentioning that I have actually met Philippe Petit (the hire-wire walker for those of you who have not yet seen the film)several years ago. He was wandering along Niagara Avenue towards Blondin Park, looking very 'French' and exotic, and carrying a copy of our little local history book, Little Ealing: a walk through history (previously plugged on this site...). I asked him if he needed any help and he hold me he was looking for the site of Blondin's house as he was a hero of his and he was doing research for a possible biography. I explained that I was one of the contributors to the book and pointed out where Blondin's house is thought to have been. He was very chatty and told me about his Notre Dame and Twin Towers walks. I still have the card he handed me in case I could let him have any more info about Blondin, though I have never made contact. So you can imagine I was really excited to see the film. And it is an amazing film - do go and see it if you get the chance. You can see excerpts on Petit's website.

Helen Johnson ● 6410d

Planning application P/03/5047, re-examined March 2008, seems to be the one covering the redevelopment of the site.If so very well done - planning department. Do a search on Ealing.gov.uk  for Empire cinema and it's the second entry.

Alan Brainsby ● 6410d

Yes, I recently visited Watermans for the first time in 15 years or more. I saw the excellent Man On Wire documentary there about the French guy who did an illegal tightrope walk between the Twin Towers of the WTC in 1974. Was great. I'll definitely be going there more frequently.Also there's a whole weekend of Nick Roeg films at Riverside this w/e: http://www.riversidestudios.co.uk/cgi-bin/season.pl?f=Roeg%20at%20Riverside:%20A%20Retrospective

Mark Dudley ● 6410d

Empire tell me that demolition will start immediately.

Susan Kelly ● 6410d

Demolition is scheduled for The Empire Cinema but no contract as yet has been signed with a builder to build a new cinema on the site - allegedly.Some of us are old enough to remember the promises of a new ice rink in Richmond to replace the old one (it never happened) and even more dramatically the destruction of the Firestone Tyre factory on the A4.Please keep watching what seems to be happening at the old Empire and email this site immediately if the bulldozers start appearing - day or night....

Eric Alan Leach ● 6411d

Meanwhile, deprived cinephiles who are not already familiar with Watermans in Brentford might like to check it out - they have quite a varied programme with mainstream and also the more arthouse type offerings including frequent foreign-language films. Have a look at www.watermans.org.uk

Virginia Fassnidge ● 6411d

Just got a reply to the email I sent Empire earlier in the week. A 30million-pound (!) cinema is to be built, with 12-16 screens (again !); won't be ready for at least two years, though.

Susan Kelly ● 6412d

Great news.

Pat Kingham ● 6414d

Just checked the Empire website which definitely says the closure is for development, so I guess we watch that space.

Susan Kelly ● 6414d

The cinema closed down last night so the redevelopment should start shortly.

Ed Yelland ● 6414d

I wish they'd do something with its, I swore never to go back after my last visit.  The place is a tip.  It would be great to have a decent cinema in Ealing, in my youth there were three in Ealing and two in Northfields. Happy Days !

Pat Kingham ● 6414d

Several years ago UGC got planning permission (or so one of the staff told me) to demolish it and build a new 12-screen cinema encompassing that odd little car park next door.  Then they sold to Empire and nothing ever came of it. Maybe the plans are going ahead at last.Such a large cinema would presumably mean that we'd get some art house films, like at the Shepherd's Bush Vue, and not just the blockbuster fodder we get at present.

Susan Kelly ● 6416d