Vue (cinema)

Vue is a cinema company in Ireland and the UK. The company was formed in May 2003 when SBC International Cinemas bought Warner Village Cinemas. There are now 62 Vue cinemas, with 607 screens [ [http://www.myvue.com/corporate/vuecompany.asp?sb=1&SessionID=002D9610A6AA45DDA26C2272C1C7F240&cn=1&ln=1&intThisPageStructureID=107 Introduction to Vue ] ] totaling 134,413 seats in the UK and one in the Republic of Ireland, including the rebranded flagship Warner Village Cinema in Leicester Square. In April 2005 the chain acquired the Ster Century chain from Aurora Entertainment, who had previously acquired it from Ster-Kinekor. This included the highest grossing cinema in Ireland or the UK at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in Dublin, Ireland.Fact|date=February 2007

As of June 20th, 2006, Vue's executive team completed a management buy-out of the company with the backing of Bank Of Scotland Corporate, with the management team retaining a 51% stake. Also, as part of the buy out, Vue took full ownership of the 4 Village sites it had been operating under contract from Village Roadshow.

Cinema organisation

Vue's multiplexes vary in size from 4 to 27 screens and as a result the staffing of each site is slightly different. Each cinema is run by the management team. Depending on the size and complexity of the site this team may be 2to1 3to1 4to1 or 5to1. The 1 represents a General Manager (GM) who has general control of the running of the cinema at site level, the 2, 3, 4 or 5 represents the number of managers that assist the GM in the running of the cinema. Team Leaders are responsible for the operational running of a cinema on a shift basis and in some circumstances act as duty managers. Guest Assistants serve guests throughout the cinema and report to the management team.

In addition to this, all cinemas have a dedicated projection team, responsible for the running of the "booth" and the maintenance of the projection and sound equipment. The projection department is structured much like the rest of the cinema. The Technical Manager has overall responsibility, supported by a Senior Projectionist. They are accompanied by a team of 2 to 4 full or part time projection staff, some of which can also share duties with the standard operation of the cinema. Vue Cinemas boss is Herbert Potter, who founded the firm, now is senior director of the Company Village Roadshow

"Vista" ticketing system

Vue completed the rollout of Vista software to all sites in September 2006. This system allows customers to buy tickets at any retail point in the cinema.

Prior to this the majority (all cinemas previously part of the Warner Village chain) of the Vue cinemas ran the WaBITS ticketing system, developed in-house in London by Warner Bros. International Cinemas. This was an internal system, used in all Warner chains until 2007, when the division responsible for development was closed owing to the sale of the remaining joint venture cinema chains.

Both ticketing systems had positive features - though Vista as a commercial product had significant investment and commitment, whereas WaBITS was always approached as a necessity rather than an opportunity.

With the new system customers may purchase tickets at the box office or at a concession counter when purchasing refreshments. Vue are the first major cinema operator in the UK to implement this "single point of sale" concept. It should be noted that former SBC Cinemas already had Vista installed.fact|date=April 2008 Some cinemas, including that at The O2 in Greenwich, Thurrock, The Hull Princes Quay and The Leeds Light Cinema, have no box office, meaning that customers may only buy tickets at tills selling other goods such as popcorn.

References

External links

* [http://www.myvue.com myvue.com] – official site