Camden's Beloved Odeon Cinema to Shut Down, Paving Way for Redevelopment

Historic Camden Odeon to Close Its Doors After Nearly a Century

The iconic Odeon cinema in Camden Town, a cornerstone of the area's cultural landscape for almost 100 years, is set to close its doors in the new year. The Parkway venue, which first opened its doors in 1937, will be redeveloped into student housing.

Key Takeaways

• The Odeon cinema in Camden Town will close in the new year.

• The site is planned for redevelopment into student housing and affordable homes.

• Secret Cinema has abandoned its plans for a venue at the adjacent former bingo hall.

• The cinema's closure marks the end of nearly a century of film history in the location.

A New Chapter for Parkway

The decision to close the much-loved cinema comes after talks between Odeon and its landlord, Camden Town Xchange, headed by developer Chris Shaw. The site, along with the adjacent former Mecca Bingo hall which closed last November, is slated for a significant redevelopment. Architects are currently working on plans that will see the creation of approximately 250 homes for students and an additional 40 affordable homes.

Future Leisure Offerings

While the cinema itself will cease operations, the redevelopment scheme includes provisions for a new leisure offering. The exact nature of this new space is yet to be decided, with the development team reportedly open to ideas. Possibilities being considered include a new cinema, an immersive entertainment experience, or even a music venue, potentially offering a new cultural focal point for the area.

A Rich History

Originally opening as the Gaumont on January 25, 1937, the cinema has a storied past. It was officially opened by comedian Will Hay and actress Lilli Palmer. Designed by architects W E and Sydney Trent and Daniel McKay, the building was a significant construction project for its time, employing 2,000 workers and featuring a state-of-the-art stage and a Compton Organ.

Over the decades, the venue hosted not only film screenings but also concerts featuring stars like Bob Hope and Mantovani. In the late 1960s, due to declining audience numbers, part of the auditorium was converted into a bingo hall. Despite changes and a period as The Gate cinema, it eventually reopened as the Odeon in 1997.

An Odeon spokesperson confirmed the closure, stating that the company has seven other cinemas within a 30-minute radius of Camden. They added that supporting the local cinema team is a priority, with efforts being made to secure jobs for staff at other Odeon locations.

Sources

• Odeon in Camden Town is set to close, Camden New Journal.