Hundreds queue for Odyssey open day (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Hundreds visit former St Albans Odeon's open day

12:43pm Tuesday 14th June 2011 in News By Manisha Mistry

HUNDREDS of people braved the rain this weekend to catch a sneak preview of the progress inside the former Odeon cinema.

The art deco building in London Road, now named the Odyssey, is being brought back to life thanks to the efforts of entrepreneur James Hannaway and his campaign to bring it back to its former glory.

Mr Hannaway, who owns The Rex cinema in Berkhamsted, appealed to the people of St Albans to help him raise the £1 million needed to buy the cinema.

Despite reaching the target, he still needs thousands of pounds more to refurbish the disused and dilapidated building.

On Sunday, June 12, about 600 people entered the former cinema and once inside they were able to look around and see the three screens that used to exist downstairs, which have now been knocked through to make way for one large space. Visitors were able to see the single screen auditorium beginning to take shape.

The open day was held just days after the new Tory administration at St Albans District Council announced it was scrapping the Lib Dems' plans to create a cinema at the Maltings Art Theatre.

Mr Hannaway had met with former council leader Councillor Robert Donald on a number of occasions to ensure their intentions did not clash.

However a cinema was earmarked at the theatre, until Tuesday last week when the new cabinet, led by Councillor Julian Daly, shelved the Lib Dems' proposals to show films.

Denise Hicks, spokeswoman for Mr Hannaway, said: “At the Odyssey are always open to another cinema just as long as the overall benefit to the community is as good as it can be.

“We will always welcome cinemas which will be able to offer something to the community that we can't, for example small independent films.”

She added: “But of course if at the Maltings it's going back to an arts theatre, for us that would be fantastic.

“Also we believe St Albans needs more provision for the arts.”

Other campaigners, including the St Albans Civic Society, had slammed the former council administration's cinema plans for the theatre – insisting the proposals for showing films up to five days a week would have been in competition with the Odyssey.