THE ODYSSEY CINEMA, ST ALBANS

The Odyssey Cinema is a 400-seat cinema in a stunning art deco building in the heart of St Albans. We opened our doors in 2014, after the closure of the Odeon almost a decade prior. The building lay dormant for several years, with an ensuing battle that saw it almost becoming a Tesco supermarket. Since reopening as The Odyssey, we have proudly shown a curated and mixed programme including blockbusters, indie films, foreign language titles, documentaries and lots more. On occasion, the director of a film has chosen The Odyssey to come in person to present the film and take part in a Q+A afterwards.

Which are some of the wonderful reasons we choose to celebrate our anniversary each year, and this year on the 23rd February 2023 we were delighted to celebrate our eighth anniversary, especially after 2020 and 2021 being such tricky years for the cinema. The guests include a mixture of local VIPs, customers who have generously supported us since the start, and a limited number of seats are available to the general public. The film is always a total secret and surprise to everyone, including the staff. The film is a new release and we are very lucky to be the first cinema to screen it officially in the UK. It is revealed when the curtains open and the title appears on the screen. It is a chance for all to raise a glass of bubbles and share some cake in true birthday style. odysseypictures.co.uk

We pride ourselves in creating a unique experience for all. Here, attendees can enjoy The Odyssey’s extensive food and drink menu, which includes our very popular cheese plates, falafel dishes, tortillas, olives and more. The Odyssey curates a wine menu so visitors have a choice of the finest red and white wines, and we are also delighted to support local breweries such as Tring Brewery and the 3 Brewers of St Albans with a range of their beers. We even have a local gin, from Tring-based Puddingstone Distillery.

To all our patrons- to those we know by name or by face, those queuing outside our doors as our monthly releases go on sale, first timers and those bringing family and friends who didn’t know we existed, without you we would not be here, so thank you all.