New Odeon cinema opens in Llanelli
Hundreds flocked to the gala opening of the new Odeon at Llanelli’s East Gate.
They marvelled at the sumptuous setting with confectionery, Costa coffee shop and Ben and Jerry ice cream lounges greeting guests through the Odeon’s entrance doors.
Public performances were fully booked from the following day with Llanelli’s community having waited patiently for 74 years since the last new cinema – again Odeon - opened in Llanelli.
One of the honoured guests at the East Gate Odeon opening was retired Swiss Valley deputy head teacher, 92-year-old Stanley Phillips, who ironically at the age of 18 queued to get a reserved ticked for the Odeon cinema that became the St Elli Entertainment Centre. But on this occasion he was allocated a premier seat.
Stanley’s verdict on the new Odeon was as emotional but, he says, better than his experience 74-years ago. “It was eye wateringly spectacular,” he said.
“I remember then being quite awe-struck as a teenager. But the East Gate experience was mind-blowing. The sound was extraordinary and with 3D glasses making everything leap out of the screen. What an experience. What a wonderful new Llanelli attraction. How cinema has changed. I wish I was 18 again.”
Odeon’s chief officer Roger Harris said Llanelli’s Odeon had the best sound system of any cinema in the UK, thanks to the support of Carmarthenshire Council.
Already cinematic aficionados were booking from all parts of the country to visit and experience Llanelli Odeon’s revolutionary 3D sound.
Council Chief Executive Mark James said: “The Odeon is a pivotal first moving cog of the £26million East Gate regeneration with restaurants, a hotel, offices and bars overlooking a new public realm which is still to come - all set to drive Llanelli’s future prosperity and regeneration.”
They marvelled at the sumptuous setting with confectionery, Costa coffee shop and Ben and Jerry ice cream lounges greeting guests through the Odeon’s entrance doors.
Public performances were fully booked from the following day with Llanelli’s community having waited patiently for 74 years since the last new cinema – again Odeon - opened in Llanelli.
One of the honoured guests at the East Gate Odeon opening was retired Swiss Valley deputy head teacher, 92-year-old Stanley Phillips, who ironically at the age of 18 queued to get a reserved ticked for the Odeon cinema that became the St Elli Entertainment Centre. But on this occasion he was allocated a premier seat.
Stanley’s verdict on the new Odeon was as emotional but, he says, better than his experience 74-years ago. “It was eye wateringly spectacular,” he said.
“I remember then being quite awe-struck as a teenager. But the East Gate experience was mind-blowing. The sound was extraordinary and with 3D glasses making everything leap out of the screen. What an experience. What a wonderful new Llanelli attraction. How cinema has changed. I wish I was 18 again.”
Odeon’s chief officer Roger Harris said Llanelli’s Odeon had the best sound system of any cinema in the UK, thanks to the support of Carmarthenshire Council.
Already cinematic aficionados were booking from all parts of the country to visit and experience Llanelli Odeon’s revolutionary 3D sound.
Council Chief Executive Mark James said: “The Odeon is a pivotal first moving cog of the £26million East Gate regeneration with restaurants, a hotel, offices and bars overlooking a new public realm which is still to come - all set to drive Llanelli’s future prosperity and regeneration.”
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