Yesterday evening saw me at the opening of the amazing Apollo Cinema in Carmarthen.  I felt enormously privileged to be invited by the Commercial Director Julia Brown.

I parked the car in the central car park by Market Way and walked round to the Apollo.  It is the first time I had walked on the new concourse by Debenhams.  It looks fabulous and is going to bring another dimension to shopping in Carmarthen.  More on the new complex in another blog.

The opening of this spectacular cinema has been 8 years in the making and much credit should go to the Carmarthen Council for its vision and determination in seeing the project through to its conclusion today.

Back to the Apollo.  I admit now that I haven’t been in a Cinema for nearly 20 years so the experience was all the more thrilling.  As I gazed up at the outside of the Apollo building I had a strong impression of 21st Century Technology and walking into the foyer had a real WOW factor!  The foyer was buzzing with invited guests from school children, business people, councillors and Mayors.  We were served delicious canapés created, cooked and served by youngsters with learning difficulties and a brilliant job they did too!

The foyer is spacious and invites people to come and sit, meet with friends have a drink or a coffee or indeed a Haagan –Dazs ice cream.  You don’t have to watch a film. It even has Wi-Fi in the foyer so bring your laptop!

The technology
The Apollo Carmarthen is state of the art when it comes to up to the minute technology, no longer when watching 3D cinema will your brain and eyes have to work hard to view the left and right images.  With Sony 4K Digital projection the left and right images are projected onto the screen at the same time so the brain does not have to work as hard to integrate them, making so much easier on the eyes allowing you to become completely immersed in the action!

The cinema is also equipped with a Licensed Bar (for those over 18 years), Costa Coffee, Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, as well as the traditional popcorn, Luxury Stadium Seating including  Premier Seats.  The seats are so comfortable and spacious and the screens particularly in Screen One are huge.  This venue will bring a whole new experience to all film buffs young or old and encourage those who haven’t been to the Cinema for a while (me!) to be a regular film goer.

Apollo have carefully thought through accessibility so is open to all.  There is wheelchair accessibility to each screen with 3 or 4 dedicated wheelchair spaces and a hearing induction loop.
The seating capacity
Screen 1 -334
Screen 2 -208
Screen 3 - 104
Screen 4 -104
Screen 5 – 95
Screen 6- 67 and don’t forget each screen offers 3D!

In addition the Apollo Cinemas are the perfect venue at which to host your corporate events.

The Apollo along with Debenhams will be a definite draw to Carmarthen as I am sure people will travel from Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion not to mention from the East to take advantage of this spectacular venue.