#odeonkensington

[vchowney]

Odeon Kensington saved from redevelopment

A campaign backed by Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Curtis and Sir John Hurt to stop developers turning one of London’s biggest cinemas into luxury flats has won a major victory.

SAVED!

[vchowney]

The Lego Movie at Odeon Kensington

As mainstream cinemas go, the Odeon Kensington does a good job of dialling down the annoyances of a multiplex. Plus, it has a soft spot in my heart because it's the first I went to with my husband when we were dating, and it's a walk-able distance from home.

Open since 1926, its art deco frontage is all that remains of the original building. It has six screens, ranging from 54-526 seats, and is deceptively close to High St Kensington tube. In reality it'll take you 10 minutes to walk down.

Redeveloped in 2007, it's now a mixed use site, which houses new screens in the basement and residential areas in the upper levels.

image via squire and partners

Realistically though, this post should be called 'How to survive going to a kids film'. 

The Odeon Kensington has just redone its food & drinks offers, and while my point above still stands, I'm always reminded of how my friends with families tell me how astronomical it is to go to the cinema. The new deals seem pretty decent, with 2 kids mixes (snack, drink and kids popcorn), 2 medium drinks and a medium popcorn for £9.99. Combined with a Family ticket (2 kids and 2 adults or 1 adult, 3 kids) for £24.00 when bought in cinema, it becomes a little less painful.

Anyway, back to it. There are three things to surviving a kids movie at the cinema; timing, arrival and seating.

In term of timing, you're pretty much screwed. The cinemas know that prime kids film times are lunch and early afternoon, so you'll rarely find a showing in the evening (you didn't think it would be that easy, did you?) Most people advise parents to take their kids to the earliest showing possible, but in reality, you'll find that closest to lunchtime screenings will be emptier.

Picking your arrival time is next. Largely, if you rock up late, you're in for a winner. Sure you'll miss the previews, which everyone loves, but there's no sitting through rustling, fidgeting and switching seats. When you're watching a film containing a Unikitty that's “half unicorn, half animé kitten", you're not expecting to dissect the cultural relevance over whisky and cigars midway through, but this is more about side-stepping the little ones while they're running about - and having a relatively smooth journey from door to seat. 

image via lego.com

Last of all is picking the right view. You'll find most families will sit squarely in the middle section of the cinema, and will likely sit right at the front of it rather than go to the left or right. If you do, you'll find the noise levels and giggles won't carry as directly, and you'll have all all-together less interrupted viewing experience. Though to be honest, if you're anything like me you'll be laughing harder than the kids and you won't even notice ;)