Vue Finchley Road is getting luxury recliners and upgraded screens
The North London multiplex is getting luxury seating, laser projection and a redesigned foyer.
For many Londoners, a trip to Vue Finchley Road is simply part of the furniture. Nestled inside the O2 Centre, it's long been one of North London's go-to cinemas for everything from Marvel blockbusters and horror hits to live sport and theatre screenings. Now it's about to get a significant upgrade.
Vue has begun work on a major refurbishment of the venue, with all 12 screens set to receive improvements alongside a complete refresh of the cinema's retail and foyer spaces. The project will be carried out in phases over the coming months, allowing the cinema to remain open throughout while individual screens are temporarily taken offline.
The first phase of work sees six screens close as they're fitted with Laser by Barco projection technology, which promises brighter images, sharper visuals and improved contrast. Dolby sound systems will also be installed, helping create a more immersive cinema experience whether you're watching the latest action blockbuster or settling in for an arthouse release.
Perhaps the biggest change for regular visitors, however, will be the seating. The upgraded auditoriums will feature Vue's premium Lux and Ultra Lux recliner seats, bringing the sort of comfort usually reserved for the chain's flagship locations.
Ultra Lux is Vue's top-tier offering, featuring fully reclining seats, additional personal space, storage compartments for coats and bags, individual comfort controls and even built-in drink coolers. It's the sort of seat designed to make three-hour epics feel considerably less daunting.
The refurbishment isn't limited to the screens themselves. Later phases will see the foyer transformed into Vue Your Way, the chain's new self-service retail concept. Designed to streamline the pre-film experience, it allows guests to scan tickets, customise snack bundles and check out via self-service tills, with staff on hand to help where needed.
While cinema operators continue looking for ways to tempt audiences away from streaming services and back into theatres, premium experiences have become an increasingly important battleground. Recliners, laser projection and upgraded sound systems are quickly becoming the standard at modern multiplexes, and Vue's investment in Finchley Road suggests it sees the venue as a key part of its London portfolio going forward.
The cinema will remain open throughout the refurbishment, with screens reopening in stages as work progresses. When the project is completed later this year, North London film fans can expect a significantly more luxurious place to catch the latest big-screen releases.
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