The building last occupied by CINEWORLD at Sealand Road, opened on Tuesday 18th December 1990. It was originally ear marked by Cineplex Odeon (no connection with UK Odeon). When the plan folded, it left the door open for Cannon. The Cinemeccanica Victoria 5 projection consoles with integral arcs which were intended for this cinema, found their way to the new 7 screen Odeon at Bromborough on the Wirral, Cheshire.
Typical in design of an early nineties build. It’s largest screen held 366 seats, the smallest 210 seats. As with most multiplexes, it had the advantage of free car parking. First operated by Cannon when they moved their operation from Love Street (ABC). Despite being very basic in design, it enjoyed good business in the early years, mainly as it had little competition until it was hit badly by new multiplexes opening at Ellesmere Port and Wrexham.
It’s high wall to wall screens adopted a peculiar and compromised aspect ratio with little difference in width between flat (wide screen),and cinemascope. Seating was attached to a flat, non~raked floor, giving many customers a pain in the neck. It had the most name changes of any cinema in Chester, ending with Cineworld who ran the better operation, maintaining a loyal audience base, thanks to the tenacity of their local management team. Once the Odeon closed it became the only cinema within the Chester area.
Cineworld was closed on 10th October 2013. The building was demolished to make way for a supermarket.
2015~Cineworld opened the new state-of-the-art 11 screen multiplex at Broughton,which boasted the first Imax screen in the area. Logistically well placed on the A55 on the very popular retail and leisure park, it is now the main movie hub for many surrounding towns, including Chester.
Peter Davies