Cineworld (Glasgow)

Cineworld Glasgow Renfrew Street

Cineworld with St Andrew House to the immediate right.
General information
Address Renfrew Street
Town or city Glasgow
Country Scotland
Coordinates 55°51′54″N 4°15′19″W / 55.86489°N 4.25517°W
Opening 2001
Owner Cineworld
Height 203 ft (62m)
Technical details
Structural system Steel Frame
Other information
Seating capacity 4,300
Website
www.cineworld.co.uk

Cineworld Glasgow Renfrew Street is a cinema on Renfrew Street, Glasgow, located in the north east of the city centre, it is adjacent to the Buchanan Bus Station and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, as well as being close to Sauchiehall Street and Buchanan Galleries. At 203 feet (62 metres) high, the building is currently the tallest cinema in the world.[1][2][3]

By 2003 it was the busiest cinema in the United Kingdom by admissions,[4] having attracted over 1.8 million patrons that year.[5] Cineworld Glasgow has 18 screens over 9 levels, and can accommodate more than 4,300 people.[4] Its most distinctive feature is the huge glass curtain wall on the east face which houses a system of criss crossing escalators (similar to the Lloyds of London building), which are lit neon blue during the hours of darkness.

History

The cinema was originally the UGC but became part of the Cineworld chain in 2005

The cinema was built on the site of Green's Playhouse, and opened as the UGC Cinema in September 2001. In 2005, it became part of the Cineworld chain when then-owners UGC of France sold all of its UK cinemas which were then re-branded. Green's Playhouse the original cinema on the site also held a record, for being Europe's largest cinema in terms of number of seats (4,368). At over 200 ft high, and with an entry in the Guinness Book of Records, Cineworld Glasgow is the world's tallest cinema. In 2000 however, during the cinema's construction, the building design came under heavy criticism from the architecture community. The building was designated the "Carbuncle of the Year" for its poor design choices and contrast with the surrounding area,[6] although following the reclad of the adjacent St. Andrew House during its conversion to a hotel in 2011, this arguably is less of an issue.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Cineworld and its founder: nine things you did not know". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 January 2015
  2. ↑ "Cineworld Cinema Renfrew St". Gallivant in Glasgow – The ultimate Glasgow guide, by Glasgows people. Glasgowvant Attractions.
  3. ↑ "Glasgow Cinemas Information". Information on cinemas in glasgow.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "UGC / Cineworld City Centre". Scottish Cinemas and Theatres Project.
  5. ↑ "WEST END WALKS OF GLASGOW". Scottish Cinemas and Theatres Project.
  6. ↑ "Cinema 'Sight for Sore Eyes'". BBC News.

External links