Forum Topic

Empite Cinema Update

Ealign Council will send out detaisl of a CPO to Empire stating they have until 24th October to commence any works on the new cinema.However if no new works are actually carried out by the building contractor by the end of September 2012, then the CPO process will officially start.

Charles Asante ● 5027d37 Comments

Nice 20secs of archive footage on BBC4 earlier tonight :O)

Tom Clifford ● 4932d

"Obviously our local authority wouldn't be wanting to spend our money on building a new cinema, shops, restaurants and a block of flats on top."Absolutely, they would rather spend it on a Southall car park and 'beautifying' North Acton station forecourt.

Nigel Brooks ● 4936d

The Compulsory Purchase Order process is underway and Ealing Council has paid consultants Tibbalds and Accession Social Enterprise to produce a glitzy 23 page colour brochure named 'Ealing Cinema: Draft Supplementary Planning Document:12th October 2012'. You can find it online if you search the Council's web site for 'Local Development Framework'.The document looks to me like component of an Invitation to Tender document. Obviously our local authority wouldn't be wanting to spend our money on building a new cinema, shops, restaurants and a block of flats on top.

Eric Alan Leach ● 4937d

Eric Leach / Charles Asante,You were both quick to label Nigel Brooks and I as "cynics" for questioning whether this project would go ahead - can either of you provide any update as to what is going on please as I see that ground zero remains so and Empire still carry the same posting on their website with regards to the Ealing re-development:http://www.empirecinemas.co.uk/index.php?page=cinemainfo&tbx_site_id=22I'd dearly love to see the cinema re-built but maintain my opinion that Empire have no appetite to do so and are stringing a weak and gullible Ealing Council along - of course, would be delighted to be proved wrong....Brgds, BR

Bud Richards ● 4937d

Yes. The Odeon (or The Coronet as it had been re-named by then) closed in January 1985 showing, appropriately, The Terminator.At least Empire didn't get their hands on the building which is Grade 2* listed

Nigel Brooks ● 4956d

Oh, yes. I thought you meant the Lido. The other one must have been before my time and I've lived here for 30+ years.

Susan Kelly ● 4956d

Are you confusing it with 'the Lido' (latterly Studios 1&2)?The Odeon (before the circle closed) was a huge single screen.

Nigel Brooks ● 4956d

Oh, yes, Northfields. By the end it was like sitting in someone's living room watching a film.

Susan Kelly ● 4956d

Too true it had been allowed to fall into disrepair.There was however no excuse to demolish it without a firm programme of work for its replacement.And yes Susan it was ^(&^(&(!! cold in there, but a wonderful space; not a patch on the Odeon Northfields but still nice with the 'marching Spartans' friezes.

Nigel Brooks ● 4956d

It was in quite a state, Jen. Many an hour I've spent in there in the winter shivering in my coat because the antiquated heating had packed up again. Where's a hot flush when you need one?

Susan Kelly ● 4956d

So why the hell knock it down,  why didn't they refurbish it and keep it running!

Jen Morty ● 4956d

It probably has more to do with the rebuilding costs which would probably not break even for many years. Richmond's cinemas already exist so no enormous upfront expenditure required. I also think that bank's would be unlikely to fix a low interest rate on any borrowings considering that interest rates can only go up from here and probably very rapidly when they do start to rise.  In fact, Santander has just added a 1/4pt to their variable mortgage rate.

Charles Campbell ● 4957d

Richmond manages to sustain three cinemas despite also having a large number of eateries nearby. If Odeon can do it, why can't Empire?

Susan Kelly ● 4957d

Given all the 'eateries' around the site I doubt that food and beverages would be a major income stream which would mean that, based on the current ticket price model, it isn't really viable.Shame on you Empire for all your false promises and part-demolishing a wonderful building.I would love to see a town centre cinema but I fear that it won't happen.

Nigel Brooks ● 4957d

Somehow, unfortunately, I doubt that it will ever be a cinema. Probably not economical since about 75% of the ticket revenue goes back to the film studio and any middle men that may involved.  Also, considering the stress on obesity, I would presume (major presumption) that people have become more choosy about eating buttered popcorn.

Charles Campbell ● 4958d

Our Council Leader is quoted as saying he wants the Empire Cinema site to be developed 'for community use'. This is very encouraging as many of us don't want another Dickens Yard type flat development, with flats being sold for up to £2.75 million to mostly south Asia-based multi-millionaires.Hands up those who think a White Knight will gallop up and actually build a new cinema on the site?One community use for the site, which would fufill a growing need, is to build homes for the poor on the land.

Eric Alan Leach ● 4961d

I just sincerely hope that Ealing Council knows how to achieve a CPO quickly and successfully.Their track record this year elsewhere has got us all going because of the failure of due diligence. I shall believe in the CPO when I see it.

George Knox ● 4964d

Speaking as a chartered surveyor i very much doubt the site has increased in value of late. It is certainly not a good role model for anyone to lie - as i said i hope they get all that is coming to them

Paul Martin ● 4964d

So it's OK for a company to lie to Ealing Council and the people of Ealing? If you are right about Empire just sitting on a site which is possibly increasing in value, what a great role model the company is for the youth of today.Bizarrely I saw someone one hour ago repainting the white hoarding around the front of the site. Just who was doing this and why?

Eric Alan Leach ● 4964d

As much as I am angry at Empire for stalling and delaying this project I can probably understand their business rationale. If this project was commercially viable in the current market given the local competition, it would have been built by now. It is clear to me they have been stalling / banking the site until the economy picks up and project finance becomes more affordable and attainable.Having said the above I hope the CPO costs them big time for the blight they have caused to our town centre.

Paul Martin ● 4964d

Just six days to go till the Compulsory Purchase Order process kicks in. Or has any one seen Empire on site with shovels?So sad for Council Officer Brendon Walsh - the 'architect' of the cinema deal and of the £1.7 millon somewhat spurious Council purchase of the YMCA at the back of the cinema site - to be missing this moment. Brendon has now moved on to bigger and better things at Hounslow Council.

Eric Alan Leach ● 4967d

Maybe no plans but there is talk. There should be a stated plan to keep Watermans in Brentford rather than no plan. That's called being positive - a Council commodity in short supply as regards Watermans. Yes Watermans did have an unfortunate minded architect, but keep the place rather than destroy it. It shows good films and has other popular facilities in an otherwise virtual wasteland of culture.

George Knox ● 5026d

There are no plans to close Watermans, only to perhaps move a few hundred metres. The cinema has just had it's most popular year so we must be doing something right.

Leigh Stops ● 5026d

Watermans cinema is very popular. Why close it down?'Average looking'? Just was does this mean?

Eric Alan Leach ● 5026d

Sooner it opens the btter CloSe the average lookign Watermanagree with other comments regarding Park Royal, its atrociouswhy do poor chains attract complexs

Charles Asante ● 5026d

And if some ignorant twit of a philistine closes Watermans in Brentford then there will be an even greater need for the new Empire to return.I can't get my brains around 20 screens. Is that how the cinema world really works these days? Or can some of the auditoriums be adapted for additional/alternative use?

George Knox ● 5026d

Well I for one will be using it. I dislike the Vue at Acton intensly - horrible site with terrible restaurants and that bowling place seems to bring all sorts of people just hanging around outside.  Westfield is lovely but when you are taking a 5 year old to the cinema its a silly distance to travel.  Oh for a local cinema to walk to, or at worse a short bus journey.

Diane Gill ● 5026d

I'm not questioning the motivation of Ealing to drive this project. I'm sure they want this resolved either way to get a cinema built (or not) to close this matter off. It's been an embarrassment to them. However, this CPO action (IMHO) should have happened a long time back. What I am questioning is the motivation of Empire Cinemas to rebuild on the site - Ealing has not got the pull that it once had and inspite of your statement that "a lot have opened up", that may well be the case, but are they in areas like Ealing ?Empire will be the judge of this at the end of the day and as per my previous post, I may well choke on my words. Only time will tell....

Bud Richards ● 5026d

Bud ^ Nigel are cynics not realisticYes Ealign has had to wait but I see soem work behind the scenes occuringalso the Em,pire website has had the Ealign update for a few months now.Also in regards to new cinemas only popping up in mass retail areas, I think you need to travel a bit further then just Shepherds Bush & park Royal, alot have opened up!

Charles Asante ● 5026d

Hi Eric,I don't think Nigel's a cynic - more of a realist. Let's think for a moment as to how long we have waited for Empire to pull their finger out of their proverbial and start work on the rebuild. There have been countless threats made by our councillors / MP's with no development. Empire procrastinate constantly.I'm now asking myself, do Empire actually have an appetite to rebuild this facility ? Any new cinemas I've seen built over the last few years are in major retail areas (Westfields) or large parks (Park Royal). I don't think that Ealing fits this criteria, and if the decision was down to me, with the competition in the area, I would not spend the money to rebuild, but that's me. I'll probably be choking on my words in no time at all....

Bud Richards ● 5027d

Nigel - you are a cynic.Ealing Civic Society recently met with the new Cinema architects. 20 screens are planned along with 7 retail outlets. Construction start date is August 2012 but progress will be slow as completeion date, apparently, is not till June 2014.

Eric Alan Leach ● 5027d

Call me a cynic, but words (or a bit of website code) cost nothing. I'll believe it when I see the opening programme of movies.

Nigel Brooks ● 5027d

Ye gods, I am actually starting to believe that it will get built. Surely that shiny-looking ad on their home page cannot be a bluff?

Alex Weel ● 5027d

Latest update on Empire website....http://www.empirecinemas.co.uk/index.php?page=cinemainfo&tbx_site_id=22

Bud Richards ● 5027d

Good luck it can take anythign up it another two yearss Id say before you see anything occuring on the site.lets hope on the commitment from EMpire, which I think will happen

Charles Asante ● 5027d

If a CPO is obtained, then when do Ealing Council propose to start the work that we have all been waiting for?

Ben Owen ● 5027d

Oh bully for Ealing Council - how many times has pressure been put on the owners to get cracking with nothing happening.....

Bud Richards ● 5027d