Where is ODEON Birmingham New Street?

ODEON Birmingham New Street is at 139 New Street, Birmingham B2 4NU.

 

In brief

The Paramount Theatre opened in 1937, and was built for Paramount Pictures. They later sold it to Oscar Deutsch's Odeon Theatres Ltd in 1942, and it was renamed to Odeon. In the 1960s and 1970s the cinema / theatre was used for live concerts, such as by The Beatles. The cinema was reduced to 6 screens in 1988, then back up to 8 screens in 1991. Costa Coffee opened up at the cinema in 2015.

ODEON Birmingham New Street (December 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown
 

ODEON Birmingham New Street - history

The Odeon cinema on New Street in Birmingham was designed by Frank Verity & Samuel Beverley, and built from 1936 to 1937 for Paramount Pictures. It was built on the former site of King Edward VI High School for Girls (in a building on this site from 1896 to 1936, but they moved to their current site in Edgbaston from 1936 to 1940). The school was next to King Edward's School (for Boys), now King Edward House. The cinema was built next to Birmingham New Street Station, and you can see the brick building from the back from the station.

ODEON Birmingham New Street from Birmingham New Street Station, during the building of the Moor Street Link Bridge (September 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Paramount Theatre opened on the 4th September 1937. It was one of seven Paramount Theatres built in major UK cities by the American owned Paramount Theatres chain. It used to have a Compton 4 Manual / 10 Rank theatre organ. The Paramount had a large stage, dressing rooms and a cafe / restaurant. 

On the 25th August 1942 it was sold to Oscar Deutsch's Odeon Theatres Ltd (about 9 months after his death). It was renamed to Odeon on the 29th November 1942.

ODEON Birmingham New Street and Costa during the second lockdown (December 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

In the 1960's the Odeon was used for many 'One Night' concerts by pop groups, including The Beatles. In April 1965 the cinema was closed for a major modernisation, removing most of the original Art Deco style decorations, it reopened on the 24th June 1965.

The Beatles from Celebrating Britain 70 Amazing Years - ODEON Birmingham New Street (August 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Odeon closed on 25th May 1988 for a conversion into a six screen cinema, it re-opened by August 1988. But at this point the Compton organ was dismantled and sold. In 1991 two extra screens were opened in the former restaurant area and in a former bar in the basement.

The cinema closed shortly before the beginning of the first lockdown - ODEON Birmingham New Street (March 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The last major refurbishment was carried out in 1998 when another screen was added. Costa Coffee opened up at Odeon in the foyer in the summer of 2015.

Zemeckis Cube from Ready Player One at ODEON Birmingham New Street (March 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Tickets can be purchased now either at the Minibar, or online via the website or app. You could collect you tickets at the Automatic Ticket Machines (using your card). As of 2021 onwards, you can present an E-ticket on your smartphone in the app, or in your email.

Minibar opposite Costa Coffee at ODEON Birmingham New Street (January 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Moor Street Link Bridge

Although not related to the cinema, the Moor Street Link Bridge was built and opened during the refurbishment works of Birmingham New Street Station between 2010 and 2015. It was opened to the public during "Half Time Switchover" in April 2013. Around the same time, a living wall was installed below the rear brick walls of ODEON, and is regularly maintained to this day.

In the years before the link bridge was built you had to walk a different route from Birmingham New Street Station toward St Martin's Queensway. Although there was a small road called Worcester Street and Worcester Walk (near the void close to the Rotunda).

ODEON Birmingham New Street (December 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The convenient Moor Street Link Bridge was completed in April 2013, and after it opened, it provided a useful shortcut between Birmingham New Street Station and Birmingham Moor Street Station, while walking past ODEON. At the same time you could look over the glass wall, and see if there was any trains down there.

ODEON Birmingham New Street (April 2013). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Contact details

ODEON Birmingham New Street