Readers' Letters: Odeon for the kids, Everyman for date night

Readers’ Letters is a free weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This week, readers had their say on the Odeon v Everyman debate which featured in an opinion article on the Stray Ferret by Andrew Gray.

Odeon is for the kids. Everyman is for date night. Both have kept our family happy for 10 years.

Zahed Amanullah

Interesting photo from 1943. Sobering to see so many of the servicemen were injured. I wonder what the occasion was?

Lorraine Miller

I have fond memories of the Odeon (and, indeed, the ABC Cinema back in the day). Clues there as to my age. I cannot comment on the current facilities and offerings at the Odeon these days, so I shall only speak about Everyman as I attend regularly both for the lounge/restaurant facilities and to watch films. Yes, it’s a totally different price-point but it is also a totally different experiential proposition. The comfort of the screening rooms is so welcoming and familiar. Like a cinematic home-from-home but with better speakers! Yes, the staff have ninja skills when delivering to the seats and sofas in the screens, and I really appreciate the members of staff introducing themselves and announcing the film about to be shown. It’s a lovely, welcoming, human touch. The myriad of uses the lounge/restaurant area gets used for always astonishes me. On top of the uses mentioned in the main article there’s also quiz nights and several clubs use the venue to facilitate their activities. There’s a friendly, informal ebb and flow to the place. As for remote working and free WiFi, I can attest to this as nine of the eleven chapters of my current book just flowed out of me while sat in the comfort of the lounge. Each chapter punctuated with a coffee and slice of carrot cake to keep me going. In contrast, in my office at home, I struggled to write past the first couple of chapters because I subconsciously associated my home office with work, whereas the Everyman lounge has a creative vibe to it. I take on board the enduring appeal and price-point of the Odeon, but, for my needs and social sensibilities, my vote falls to the wider customer service proposition that Everyman offers. Harrogate is lucky to have the choice and fingers crossed that both can survive for future generations of cinema goers to create their own fond memories in either, or both.

Syd Bell

What’s the definition of ‘grey-belt’?

Stray Ferret readers also had their say on the news that the council has approved plans to build new homes on green belt land between Harrogate and Knaresborough.

So open farmland is now defined as grey-belt? This isn’t my understanding of that term.

Gilly Charters

How many ‘low contributions’ are to follow and how do they get refused when this argument has been accepted?

Peter Dennis

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

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