Odeon Oxford George Street cinema closes
London-based property consultant Marick Real Estate has been appointed by Oxford City Council to develop the site.The aparthotel will have about 145 rooms on the upper five floors. Aparthotels offer fully-furnished apartments with en-suite kitchens.The council wants more hotels in Oxford to boost the city centre's economy.Demolition is expected to take about three years.
Odeon's lease of the building ran out in September.It said it had been "truly proud" to serve cinemagoers and "bring years of movie magic to the community".It opened as the Ritz Cinema in 1936 operated by Union Cinemas, and went through several owners over the decades before becoming an Odeon in 2000.It is the third Odeon to close in Oxfordshire, following Banbury and the 99-year-old Magdalen Road theatre.The nearest Odeons are now in Aylesbury and Milton Keynes.Other cinemas in Oxford are the Curzon, Phoenix Picturehouse, Ultimate Picture Palace, and the Vue at Ozone Leisure Park in Littlemore.
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