A cinema in Sutton Coldfield hit by the pandemic and then by its owners falling into administration is set to raise its curtain once again to filmgoers. The former Empire now Royal in Sutton Coldfield will welcome back cinemagoers this weekend for the first time in nearly four years.
And the venue has undergone a complete revamp, restoring it to its 1930s Art Deco past with modern twists like luxury seating, improved sound, better screens and a new bar. There's cinema fare like popcorn, nachos, sweets and ice cream on offer, of course.
But those on a date night fancying a tipple can enjoy, beer, wine, spirits and co*cktails or a host of soft drinks hot and cold to keep themselves refreshed. We spoke to the Royal's manager Des Christie for his take on the new look. And below is the run down of what's changed and what to expect at the new venue.
Read more: New cinema set to open as former Empire ‘strikes back’ with stunning new look
What’s new at Royal Cinemas?
The flickering Empire sign has gone to be replaced by Royal Cinema signs on the exterior. The floor to ceiling long windows by the foyer have been fully opened up, flooding the venue with natural light. Step into the foyer area and there’s period chandeliers and seating.
It’s a mix of the 1930s with modern drinks, food and snacks you’d expect at a cinema. Soft drinks. Tango Ice Blasts on draught, popcorn, nachos and ice cream from Yarde farm in Plymouth.
But added to that are alcoholic drinks – beers, wines, spirits and co*cktails. And a cosy bar and seated area upstairs beside the main screen – number 1.
New look Royal Cinemas Sutton Coldfield - in 35 stunning photos - gallery
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I visited a day before the official opening – which will be Friday, July 26. Deadpool and Wolverine was always the aim and that will be showing alongside Twisters and Despicable Me 4 on the opening night.
So what has happened to the Empire to revamp it? It would be easier to say what hasn’t happened! The new cinema foyer area has been stripped back. Less is more for the Jervis family.
The food and drink counter remains on the right as you step into the cinema – but other clutter has been replaced by sofa seating and tables downstairs to the left – by those huge, long windows. Something architect, Cecil Clavering, of the Harry Weedon partnership would have envisioned when he designed Oscar Deutsch’s Odeons, almost a century ago.
The flooring has a marble effect. Chrome handrails have been retained but restored and now shine once again. The bar and balcony area is opened up – feeling part of the main foyer, rather than separate from it – as it was in its latter Odeon/Empire days.
Once the venue had one giant screen, with seating downstairs and up. But that became four with the main screen upstairs, and three more downstairs. Two smaller screens and a third with a ‘medium’ capacity.
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What’s changed with the screens?
Screen 1 now has some 198 seats, the majority with footstalls and drinks cup holders. But the back row has a set of recliners. Push a button and put your feet up and enjoy the action! There’s barely a bad seat in the house. In the front row you’ll be mmersed in the film, like at an IMAX cinema And the seating will outdo most living rooms.
Screen 4, which is where the lower stalls were when it was just a one-screen cinema, is the second biggest with 164 seats. These are sofa and single armchair seats. If you want to guarantee not sit on a sofa with a stranger, you need to book both of its seats. But it could make a novel ‘speed’ dating venue moving round the dual sofa seats and introducing yourself!
The fins of the original cinema can be seen – and now its got modern day luxury to complement it, with improved screens and sound systems. And those comfy sofas and armchairs.
Screens 2 and 3 are mirror images of each other. They sit side by side as you enter doors from the foyer. Each has 45 seats (including a wheelchair space) and they are cosy. More intimate affairs. These feel like a luxury cinema a footballer may have on the Four Oaks estate – and then some!
There’s toilets downstairs and up. With an accessible toilet downstairs. While a step lift has been placed on order for the downstairs area – it has yet to arrive. So those in wheelchairs will need to use the side entrance and get some help from cinema staff, as they did do before. With the lift to the foyer ‘due in September’. An annoyance for the owners and their patrons that need the lift but it will be coming soon.
What food and drink is on offer?
This is cinema food – snacks and drinks, but not hot meals. Anyone wanting one of those has an array of choice nearby in Birmingham Road.
There’s popcorn in small ,regular of large (£3.50 to £5). And nachos with one dip (£5) or two (£6) or crunchy crisps (£3.50). Or sweet bags at £3, chocolate bags at £3.50 and Yarde Farm ice creams at £3 a small tub.
co*ke, co*ke Zero, Diet co*ke, Sprite, Fanta and Dr Pepper Zero on draft (small, to large £4 to £6). Or Tango ice blast sugar free slushies - £4.50 to £6.50. Bottled co*kes and San Pellegrino are £2.50, Lipton Ice Tea in a can and Fruit Shoots are £2. Hot coffees and teas are available from £2 to £3.
And there is a fully stocked bar selling bottles of beer including Peroni, San Miguel, Corona and Birra Moretti (£4 to £5), Magners and Kopparberg ciders at £3.50 or £4. Prosecco at £6 for 20cl or £18 a bottle. Funkin co*cktails at £5 a can.
Or spirits at £4 a single or £5 a double (Plus £2.50 a mixer). There’s alcohol free options too – Bellini mocktails at £3, Peroni 0% at £3.50 or Kopparberg 0% at £4.
The Royal is offering combo deals of popcorn and nachos plus a regular drink for £8.50, or sharers with XL popcorn and nachos and two drinks for £13. And a kids combo with small popcorn, sweets and a small drink or fruit shoot for £4.50.
The venue has a strict policy meaning only food and drink purchased on the premises can be consumed there. It said food and drink bought at the venue will help maintain its ‘long term future’, as half the cinema ticket price is taken by distributors and the costs of making the film, including stars like Tom Cruise’s wages!
Manager Des Christie said: “We believe we have got the royal feel to the cinema. And we encourage our guests to support it by buying the food and drink on offer.
“We don’t have hot food so we’d encourage people to use the restaurants nearby if they are hungry and then come to us. We have a food purchased on site police so food or drink cannot be brought in.”
Read more: Town cinema set to be restored and reopened after buyout
And what are the cinema prices?
The pricing is competitive and for what you get for the money, I would say decent value. You have an Art Deco setting, with upgraded sound and screens. Plus that luxury seating in every screen.
The maximum price for an adult is under £10. It’s £9.75 for peak showings – so after 1pm Monday to Thursday and before 5pm on a Sunday. Adult off-peak is £8.25, Children are £6.75 every day for two to 14-year-olds. Concessions – 60+ or students with a valid photo ID from sixth form, college ir university are £7.50.
The family peak for two adults and two kids, or one adult and three kids is £30. And the family off peak is £28. Off peak in school holidays is Monday to Thursday before 1pm. There will also be a Weekend Royal Juniors Club at £3 for all tickets – starting in September.
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When will the Royal open to the public and how to book?
The Royal Cinemas is set to officially open this weekend and it is aiming for Friday (July 26) at 4.40pm for a showing of Deadpool and Wolverine. Tickets should be available to book shortly at: www.royalcinemas.co.uk Check out the Royal Cinemas site and the venue's social media channels Facebook and Instagram for the very latest opening and booking information.
Twisters and Despicable Me 4 should also be shown, with cinemas 2 to 4 opening, with the final touches being done to Screen 1, which will open by Monday (July 29) at the latest. The bar will be open, but will be for cinema ticketholders only at this stage. And those wanting to have a pre-film drink are advised to get there well in advance of the showing. Ten minutes before, you may not get served.
Royal Cinemas manager Des Christie said: “Operationally we are good to go. We are on the final tweaks and snagging. The disabled lift is not yet ready. But the cinema is accessible via the side as before and staff will know if a disabled space is booked.
“Anyone with any concerns can go on the Contact Us section of the royalcinemas.co.uk website.” Tickets can be bought at royalcinemas.co.uk and then you will get a QR code which can be scanned at the door. Enjoy!
