The cinema reopen next year
Omniplex Cinemas has confirmed that it will refurbish the 12-storey former Cineworld complex in central Glasgow to provide “a premium experience for film fans”.
Clydebankbridge Ltd purchased the Renfrew Street site for £7m in May this year. The company is owned by Omniplex, an Irish cinema group which took over five Empire sites in 2023 – including one in Clydebank.
Extensive renovations will begin in the coming months with an anticipated reopening of the cinema in the middle of next year.
Renovations will include fully recliner auditoriums with upgraded laser projection and sound, three giant OmniplexMAXX screens featuring 4K laser projection and Dolby Atmos sound, Joe’s Food Truck, and “other exciting concepts” to be revealed at a later date.
The 62-metre building is reputedly the tallest cinema in the world. It opened in 2001 under the branding of UGC before Cineworld took over UGC’s operations in 2005.
Paul John Anderson, director of Omniplex Cinemas, said: “The Renfrew Street cinema is one of Glasgow’s most iconic cultural landmarks and a cornerstone of the wider UK cinema industry.
“Steeped in entertainment history, from the site’s early days as Green’s Playhouse and later the Apollo to what now sits in its place as the tallest cinema in the world, this venue holds a special place in the hearts of many moviegoers.
“We look forward to inviting Glasgow’s film lovers to experience a venue that combines the heritage and prestige of this landmark location with the premium facilities that define Omniplex Cinemas.”
