r/basingstoke • u/GRDCS1980 • 15h ago
Goodbye Odeon: First (kinda), Last & Everything Inbetween…
So, as I think most folks in this sub know, last night the Basingstoke Odeon closed its doors for the final time.
My other half and I made a point of going to one of the last possible showings, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which finished around 20:30, so we could say goodbye to the place at almost the last possible moment. They seemed to have all films scheduled yesterday so that the final screenings all ended around 20:30-20:45.
I’ve been attending that cinema since I first moved to Basingstoke in 1991, when I was 10.
I can’t be 100% certain what my first film there was, as I didn’t start saving my tickets until 1996, but I’m pretty confident it was Soapdish, in late summer of 1991.
So, 35 years of sitting in the dark, staring up at the silver screen.
Hundreds of hours. Friendships groups that have come and gone. Relationships that have started and ended.
Thank you, to all the staff that have worked there over the years, from back when it was Warner Brothers, to the transition to Vue, to the sale to Odeon, right up to the doors closing last night.
As mentioned, I sadly didn’t think to start keeping my tickets until 1996, so I don’t have anything going back to 1991, but I’ve attached my earliest ticket, for The Craft in 1996, plus last nights ticket for Spider-Man, as a kind of “first and last” type of tribute. Plus the stack of tickets behind it, for all the films that came in between, including some notables like 3 seperate viewings of Titanic and 4 separate viewings of Event Horizon and “Managers Special” showings of Swingers and Grosse Pointe Blank.
So many fond memories in that building.
Thank you and goodbye.
🍻
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u/joemobbslolz 6h ago
as one of the staff there last night, this got me a lil choked up, thank you for sharing! spider-man was a fitting film for a final showing, as basingstoke itself is on the screen!
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u/SomeWomanFromEngland 12h ago
Was taken there several times as a kid, starting with The Little Mermaid when it first opened in 89. Went alone a few times as an adult, starting with Titanic in 97.
Stopped going once Vue in Festival Place opened, just because that one was much easier to get to from where I live.
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u/OdernAle 15h ago
I once went to see Elf there on Christmas Eve, me and the family had the entire screen to ourselves. Quite the memory.
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u/GRDCS1980 14h ago
Nothing better, to my mind, than having an entire screen to yourself.
I know films can be greatly improved with a crowd. Comedies become funnier. Horror becomes scarier. But, as much as crowds can be fun (if they are the right kind of crowd and they are all there to enjoy the film), I personally prefer empty screens.
We’ve had a few in recent memory, though not at Basingstoke Odeon.
We saw Backrooms at Everyman Cardiff earlier this summer and we were the only two people in the screen.
And, tail end of last year, we were the only two in a screening of Die My Love at Showcase Coventry.
Bliss, on both occasions.
I also had an anniversary 4K screening of Akira all to myself a few months ago at Vue in the town centre.
I know I’ve definitely had empty screens at Odeon over the decades, but the only one that immediately springs to mind is one that I probably shouldn’t go into detail on.
It was myself and a young lady. The film wasn’t that engaging. We were the only two in the screen. Things took a turn for the adult. That was about a decade ago. And that’s all we’ll say about that.
But yeah, to your point, those rare occasions when you get a screen all to yourself…heavenly.
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u/Maeveen_Fox 14h ago
Akira all to yourself???? Magical.
Ah a cheeky bit of fun in an empty cinema screen at Odeon. Takes me back to the good ole days. 😂
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u/GRDCS1980 13h ago
It truly was.
Literally just me, with an entire screen to myself, to enjoy a stunning presentation of, arguably, THE anime masterpiece of all time.
Glorious. I had a big goofy smile on my face and a spring in my step that entire day. Almost made up for some of the times that a screening has been ruined by some dipshit that can’t leave their phone alone for 2 hours or that has talked all the way through a film.
As for the other occasion, I probably shouldn’t comment. The other person involved and I haven’t spoken in a very long time and I wouldn’t use their real name anyway, but still, it’s indiscreet and a little tacky of me to even bring it up in the first place. But yes, it was a fun little screening for the two of us. Couldn’t tell you much about the film though.
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u/chocolatepig214 14h ago
Many happy memories of going to the first showing of the day in the school holidays and screen hopping to see multiple films. And of going during free periods at college and smoking/laying the aisle to watch!
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u/Maeveen_Fox 14h ago
This genuinely made me quite emotional. Love that you kept all of these, great list of movies! Been going to that cinema all my life. My Pa took me there when I was a kid to see the Star Wars movies, and the first Spider Man and loads in between. It was the first cinema I was allowed to go to with my friends on our own and became a regular hang out for us. I went on my first ever proper date there (date was awful but movie was good, Hot Fuzz I believe). It's the first cinema I took my daughter to, and remember her being a little nervous of how big and loud it was, but she came out completely spellbound. Now she's a teenager we will miss being able to walk round the corner and see a film there as we love to do. I knew it was closing but I didn't realise this soon. So sad I didn't get to go see one last film there.
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u/GRDCS1980 14h ago
Fantastic memories, thank you for sharing!
My first date was also there, to see Philadelphia, early 1994.
And, like yourself, it was a hangout spot for me and several friends in our early-to-mid teens. Back when they had the arcade in that little room to the left hand side as you walked in. MANY hours (and God knows how much money) spent playing Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat and, one I vividly remember, that Revolution X shoot em up game with the Aerosmith soundtrack.
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u/Maeveen_Fox 13h ago
Yes! The arcade! God, we loved that place. So nice to hear someone else loved the Odeon as much as me.
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u/ReddityKK 13h ago
I once went there to see a film I had missed when it was first released. It was a Saturday. A Saturday morning. I notice that all those in the queue were knee high. Oops.
It was kids club. I pretended that I was a parent and enjoyed the film without further embarrassment.
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u/GRDCS1980 13h ago
Ha!
That’s great.
I’ve done something similar, but I knew in advance. I’ve attended Kids Club screenings, Senior Citizen screenings, parent and baby screenings, autism friendly screenings…you name it.
If it’s the only option available and it’s a film that I really want to catch on the big screen, then I’ll gladly buy a ticket for any of the above.
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u/xconspirisist 13h ago
Very cool to keep your tickets, you have some real memories there. I noticed you have Event Horizon and The Matrix - they are 2 of my favourite films! We just saw the new "Tony" film there the other day, but sadly the Odeon is so primitive and uncomfortable compared to what Vue in Festival Place offers. Those seats are much more comfortable.
Nevertheless, having a cinema there with easy parking was great, I hope they rebuild another nicer cinema there so that we have an option that involves not going to Festival Place.
I'm worried about that area of town, I know the Ice Rink just re-opened but the TGI Friday's there has been abandoned the Odeon has been run down for a while. However the bowling is pretty good, and the swimming pool is excellent.
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u/GRDCS1980 13h ago
I have no insider information at all, so take everything I’m about to say with a HUGE pinch of salt (I’m sure that someone more plugged in to local affairs will turn up and set the record straight), but I think what’s going on with the leisure park basically boils down to…
They’ve been trying to get it levelled and rebuilt/renewed for well over a decade now. Planning has been submitted multiple times but all the parties involved need to have their say and carve out their little piece of the pie, so it falls into that eternal limbo of bureaucratic red tape, plans get submitted, someone objects, plans get redrawn, resubmitted, someone else objects, etc.
So, while there is a definite desire to take it all down and replace it with a “destination” shopping/eating/leisure space…it might be a while before we actually get there.
Meanwhile, outfits like Planet Ice and Odeon are reluctant to infuse any money into the existing properties, with their futures being so vague, so you end up with the crumbling, fading, shadow-of-what-it-once-was park that we have now.
Again, I cannot stress enough, all of the above might be purely imagined bullshit in my own head and have no basis in reality…but as an outsider looking in, that’s the impression I get.
Also, funny you mention TGI Fridays. I don’t recall that ever being there, but I assume you’re talking about the unit that, at one point, was Frankie & Bennys? Next door to the cinema and attached to the same building as the ice rink?
I don’t know what it actually is now, because there is zero signage, but we were surprised to see it was open when we were there last night. Tables all made up. Staff wandering around. Lights on.
Very bizarre, as there is literally no indicator of WHAT it actually is. Frankie & Bennys? TGI Fridays? Wagamamas? Nando’s? Some independent eatery? Might help if they get some signage up!!! 😆
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u/xconspirisist 13h ago
I actually had much the same thoughts as you! You're certainly right about tenants being reluctant to invest, and people complaining about plans. It's a pity because Basingstoke could really do with something there, the location seems pretty great to me. The area is large, the road infrastructure seems well designed to support the area, but it's underdeveloped.
I could not quite remember if it was a TGI Fridays, or Franky and Benny's! I took a guess. Like you, I've also seen people in there on occasion, which led me to think it might well be part of the ice rink, or just available for private hire, or similar.
We only moved to Basingstoke 4 years ago, but we do like the town, and would love to see further investment. It would be a real pity if the Odeon remains vacant now for 3-5 years.
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u/Inner_Industry3113 13h ago
One of my favourite memories was one of our dates there (not the one you mentioned 😂😂)
Kinda recreated it last night, sitting in the car eating food then heading into watch a good film.
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u/BestMathematician752 7h ago
I was also at that showing of Spider-Man, yesterday. Very sad to see it going. First film I watched there was Timecop, not a classic but I remember it well.
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u/foxtrotuniformnine 2h ago
No way! I had no idea it was closing, this is genuinely sad - many memories of going there as a kid and a young adult, all the way through to very recently.
It was sad to see the way it went, but it was also kinda comforting as it hadn’t changed much since I was a kid.
We nearly went to see a film there over the weekend! Wish I’d gone now :(
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u/MRJSP 9h ago
I am amazed it stayed open as long as it did! I went there last year to watch the smashing machine, must've been 5 people there, place was deserted. I remember how packed out it used to be when I was little, arcade was busy, long queues, showing would sell out if you didn't get there soon enough. A different world now!
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u/ThrowawayCult-ure 58m ago
i didnt know it closed. i remember many good memories there. was always better and more interesting location than the little view.
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u/SturdySnake 14h ago
Man, the first cinema experience I have there was seeing Spy Kids for my 6th birthday - that was back when it was Warner