IT is the biggest event in Bournemouth film-going for almost half a century.

As the town’s Odeon on Westover Road closed for the last time yesterday, staff prepared to unveil its replacement to the public.

The 10-screen Odeon multiplex is the centrepiece of the new BH2 leisure development, on the site of the former Exeter Road bus station.

Odeon top brass joined an invited audience of locals who were given a choice of two films – Hidden Figures or, on the giant new iSense screen, The Lego Batman Movie.

The opening of a flagship Odeon is the most momentous occasion for Bournemouth film fans since the town’s two Westover Road cinemas were reopened as twin-screen venues in 1969-70.

Carol Welch, managing director of Odeon UK and Ireland, said: “We’re thrilled with the stunning new Odeon in the BH2 centre, which is our most innovative cinema in the UK.

“It is currently our only cinema to feature all of these great new features in one place. In 10 years’ time they will be commonplace throughout the country – so we are delighted to bring them all first to our guests in Bournemouth.”

The new Odeon’s foyer opens onto the covered thoroughfare of the BH2.

Cinema-goers can get a Costa coffee, buy hot dogs, nachos or freshly popped popcorn, or customize their own soft drink at a Coke Freestyle machine with more than 100 possible flavour combinations.

A bank of ticket machines enables customers to collect tickets or buy them on the spot, while printed film posters have been replaced by the digital variety that can be changed instantly.

Escalators lead to the 10 screens and to a bar, where customers can buy coffee, beer, wine and the Odeon’s menu of “pizzas and planks” – the planks being a selection of cold meats or deli-style vegetarian antipasti dishes.

The biggest of the cinema screens is in the iSense auditorium and measures 16.9m by 7.19m (55ft by 23ft). The auditorium has an immersive Dolby Atmos sound system with 56-speakers.

You enter the auditorium via an ‘iSense corridor’, where bespoke images are projected on a curved wall to create a sense of anticipation – accompanied by 7.1-channel sound.

Take a 360 video tour of the cinema below - if you have google cardboard or VR goggles we really recommend using them for this (just make sure you set the video quality to its highest first.)

Eight of the other screens have electronically-controlled reclining seats for a £2 premium. Press a button and you can sit way back with your feet up, but with a perfect view of the screen. Two screens are all-recliner.

One auditorium is a designated Kids Screen, with a soft play area for use during the film. The play equipment will be available at advertised kids’ screenings and parties. Family films will still be shown on other screens for parents who prefer their little ones to sit still.

Odeon’s Carol Welch added: “We have a very long and happy history here, and are very excited about the amazing experiences we’ll be creating in the decades ahead.”

Richard Rowe, general manager of the cinema, said: “It was absolutely brilliant to open the doors on our brand new Odeon and see everyone’s reaction to the new cinema. The team involved in Odeon’s newest flagship site are extremely pleased and we now can’t wait to welcome thousands of guests through our doors in time for half term and beyond, to experience the latest and best in cinema entertainment.”

The mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Eddie Coope, said: “It’s great that Odeon has decided to open its flagship cinema complex here in Bournemouth, boosting local jobs and investment. I’m thrilled it’s here and the mayoress and I are looking forward to enjoying the new facilities.”