Omniplex Cinema

The cinema has had a fantastic revamp with individual leather style reclining chairs. Chunky, big, really cosy chairs. Each chair has a giant bucket holder for popcorn. Great staff too I also noticed that the inside of the cinema has been painted, refreshed and good on the owners for doing this work. Popcorn and sweet stuff is still a whopping price and the mark up must be staggering. I love the chemistry behind popcorn popping. The kernel has moisture inside and when it’s heated the moisture turns to steam with nowhere to go so it explodes and literally turns itself inside out. Its a violent reaction. Back now to the cinema about 16 of us went to see Pride. It’s based on a true story about a bunch of gay & lesbian people who raised money for striking Welsh miners in the early 1980’s. It’s a true story and the movie was very funny. There were a lot of gay people in the audience and they got some jokes that just went over my head; they were howling with laughter and I didn’t get it. Anyway I commend the movie it was hugely entertaining. Downsides, the cinema was bloody cold and I suspect air con was on. It’s a pay car park ²⁴⁄₇ which is a bloody nuisance. If you go to the cinema you get a deduction for car park charges but you may still have I pay something.

Ah, I remember when I was young and idealistic when I first went to the Newry Omniplex. Opened in 1997 in the Quays Complex in Newry it offered a high-​class alternative to what was, until then, Newry’s only other Cinema — the two screen kip Savoy on the corner of Monaghan Street and Merchants Quay, which has thankfully been replaced by Bellini’s.
Looking to get in on the popularity of James Cameron’s Titanic the cinema was modelled like an Ocean Liner. It also had two function rooms — «The Monroe Suite» and «The Pressley Suite» which could be used for children’s parties and an arcade in which to spend your time if you arrived early for your movie.
Alas this has all fallen by the wayside, in recent years the furnishings have deteriorated and the prices have gone up. An adult ticket now costs £6:30 and you can expect to pay almost £10 for a popcorn and drink. The arcade has closed and the function rooms serve as little more than storage rooms.
The cinema staff seem as inept as ever though, ambient lighting in the screens is left on for some time after the film has started and that’s dependant on whether the projector has been pointed at the screen.