Urban Exploration is nothing new, its been around a long time and has developed into a photographic subculture itself over the past decade. For the uninitiated urban exploration (UE or urbex are other names) is the activity of exploring abandoned, disused or off limits places. After many successful scaling of the old Zurich Building I turned my focus to the former Odeon Cinema in the North End area of Portsmouth.
A brief history of the building from cinematreasures.org:
“The Portsmouth Odeon opened on 14th December 1936 with Sydney Howard in “Chick”. It was the largest and most expensive Andrew Mather designed Odeon of that year. Total seating was provided for 1,824, with 1,224 in stalls and 600 in balcony. It has an impressive monolithic tower frontage in cream faience with vertical green bands and a roof of red Spanish tiles. The auditorium’s ornate decoration included tall murals on side walls depicting film subjects. In 2007 the Freehold on the building was sold by Odeon Theatres Ltd. and after a few false rumours of closure, the final performances were held on 10th January 2008.”
So one evening a couple of us found ourselves darting through the side access of an empty house, jumping the wall in the back garden and starting what has turned out to be a rather nice little mini project.
Initially I thought it wasn’t going to be much visually, after all it was just a cinema. But Odeon built their cinemas differently. The main building itself has two points of access.
The lower screen you access by climbing up a small wall with the help of a gridded fence and jumping through a window. This screen is flooded as are the toilets next to the screen making the water rank with sewage. When you walk on the main stage you can see water seeping through as the wood has rotted after being submerged in water for years. The below shots were taken whilst standing on the vents as they were metal, and solid.
The below image highlights perfectly why the building became abandoned.
After exiting, we made our way into the main section which is accessed down an alley to the side of the building. The first two smaller screens are about 10 seconds from the door, the one below is the left hand one which had a ton of debris blocking the doorway.
Along one side of the room were a few man sized holes. These led into an access corridor which ran the length of the room. At one end was a projector room which serviced both ground floor cinema screens. There is no worthwhile equipment in these rooms now but there is plenty of film reel scattered around the floor.
The main screen, being a a beautiful curved symmetrical room, IS the main draw. It is a shining example of the retro style cinema screens Odeon Theatres were modelled on. The first visit here I didn’t have time to shoot what I had in mind, so the shots below were from trips number two and three. I used two different flash trigger systems with my camera mounted on my tripod so I could overlay the shots in photoshop.
As we explored we found a small access hole high off the ground behind the projection screen. Being curious we climbed up to and through the hole which led into a large cavity ceiling high above the hall below. This area contained wooden walkways and a cooling system.
At the far end of the roof cavity is a small hatch, and with some encouragement it came open. This hatch led out onto the exterior roof which had a small balcony area with a wooden seat.
The projector room for the main auditorium is in a similar state as the two smaller screens. No equipment, warped flooring, but a nice view of the main screen through the projector slots.
Whilst I love the adventure that urbex projects bring, it is a crying shame that such a wonderful building has been left to rot from the ground up. The cost of restoring the building itself would be in the millions and I suspect that demolishing it wouldn’t be that much cheaper.
As with all explores then do exercise caution. Exploring abandoned buildings comes with significant risks and these are risks that you must accept should something go wrong.
All long term abandoned buildings have their structural faults in the shape of loose walls and dodgy floors. If you do try to access the roof here make sure you are strong enough for the climb as it hangs about 8 feet over some steel work that will cause you injury if you fall. When you do get in through the access hole keep your weight over the girders until you get onto the walkway as it is a long way down to the cinema floor. Buildings like this after often secure, so it as at your own risk how you access them.
27 Comments
Me and a friend went last night to get some photography of the main stage. However upon going down the alleyway in the dark which was full of nettles and thorns the end has been bricked up.. which is a shame! The only other entrance is up on a small rooftop which has a hatch you can jump down. It leads you to the flooded area, which seems to be much much worse now. The wooden floor seeps liquid when stood on and looks although it will fall through imminently. I wouldn’t recommend staying on the stage for too long if at all. The other side leads through to some more rooms and an old office, but nowhere leads to the main stage (the one we wanted photographs of!)
It wasn’t too bad considering this trip was done in the middle of the night with heavy rain and winds. Just be careful. If anyone knows another entrance to the main section or if the alleyway gets opened up please let me know. (Other than climbing that very scary old roof).
does anyone know if its still open cuz i was thinking of exploring it.
I live in the northend area and I’d be down for taking a look round!
Just behind the Sainsbury chap. If you go do be careful.
I’d love to come explore this place, anyone have any ideas if it is still accessible?
it is such a shame. as amazing and interesting as it is to look at now, i really wish someone would re do it all to look how it did when i used to go. if only i was a multi millionaire!!! would be incredible to see it back to how it was and would be incredible to be able to do that myself! ahh memory lane! not been there for a while! lol
Hi there I am a photographer and I am looking for some abandoned places to take pictures of in Portsmouth does anyone have any adresses that I can have. Thanks
Hi i have been wanting to explore, is the way to get in still open and where is the way in, in detail
Hi Taylor, no idea if it is still accessible it has been sometime since I visited this place. As for access, it is fairy obvious and if I tolf you it would ruin the fun ;0).
I’ve been feeling the urge to adventure recently and now that i’ve heard about this I just have to get in! Do you know the address for it? Is it still there now?
Hi Chlo, yes its still there. Its behind the Sainsburys in North End, its not hard to find on google maps.
Can you email me at yoshiidud@yahoo.co.uk
I’m wanting to get into urban ex, but never had anyone to go with… Not so fun exploring when you’ve got no one watching your back.
Hi Perry, you should look into some of the urbex forums and ask about. Its been awhile since I did any exploring as my focus has shifted and I tend to only go with people I 100% trust. Plus there is nothing wrong with going solo, less people, less chance of being caught.
Hi Adam,
Thank you so much for those photos. It was the place where I watched my first film and I ended up working in the Odeon. I was even there for its last ever screening before they closed it.
Looking at your pictures brought up a lot of emotions for me, even in its decay the main screen is still beautiful. I was hoping you’d make it all the way to the projectionist staff room on the roof – they turned it into a Grandma living room! I can’t imagine much is left of that now though…
Hey, Im a student filmmaker at the Northen Film School. Im currently trying to obtain permissions to film in an abandoned building for a documentary and this is perfect.
Im not from the area so can you give me any info on who owns the cinema if you have any. Does it have any security? We’d want to film in there for about 6 hours.
Thanks
According to a poster above its owned by the chap who owns Kens Kebabs. To be sure, it might be worth checking the Portsmouth Land Registry. There is no security, but odds on its been resealed. If you do manage to get in you shouldn’t have any problems as long as you are not loud.
Hi there,
These are fantastic photos, it’s always interesting seeing how abandoned places appear now! I’ve explored the site recently, with the intention to investigate within, though I can’t figure out how to get in. Can you advise?
Many thanks.
Hi Adam,
the only way in we found was to pop into the back area with the trashed Speedy Pizza car in it and head over to the side alley way. There is a door down the end which will probably be frequently opened and resealed. This is the only way into the main building.
Thank you so much! I have lived in North End all my life and have always walked past and got such a weird vibe from this building because nothing had been done with it. I have always wondered what it’s being used for and if the screens are still there and just wow! I want to get into urban exploring myself and this would be a great place to start. Do you have any advice?
hi Grace, drop me an email and will send some advice over to you. Paul.
Hey! so glad i found this group, i’ve been looking for abandoned places to explore around Portsmouth and had no idea it was here! There is an abandoned hotel on the isle of white i want to explore but no idea what the deal is with that, Do you know if this cinema is still accessible? thanks!
Hi Louis,
absolutely no idea mate. Its not too hard to get on to the property. A little walk around and a quick view of google maps should be everything you need.
Paul.
Hi, me and a friend are desperate to explore this cinema. It holds so many memories for me. Do you gain access from the old car park that is located from the rear?
Hi Simon, basically yes. Its not difficult to find the way in…its more a case if its been opened up or not. Access via the lower cinema is not recommended ;0).
Hi,
Ken from Ken’s Kebabs brought it. He brought it for £70,000, now wants millions for the land behind sainsbury.
He should of re-opened it as a independent cinema.
If I was well enough I would of followed my dream, brought it and opened it again.
I went in it a few years ago with a mate and came out and there was police in car park for cautioned and took home but it’s flooded with missy water and the roof was caving in. Use to be so easy getting in would walk through a open gate then walk a little to and a door which took you inside but now the gate has scaffolding fence in front of it and the actually gate has wood boards , Barbed wire , and anti vandal paint on it . Couldn’t imagine what it looks like inside now bet krs Horrible .
“Bet It’s horrible”