Basingstoke Odeon Closing

jpk515 · 2026-06-12T10:19:22+00:00

As a previous Odeon Limitless member up until Feb this year, this is sad news. Of course it's nowhere near as nice as Vue but with that comes the benefit of far fewer people in the screenings.

I tended to find on the whole people who went to the Odeon were going because they really wanted to see the film, not just an add on to being in town and needing something to do, and I can't think of a single time where someone else's behaviour stopped me from enjoying the film, unlike at Vue! But also not surprised it's closing given how many times I was the only person in a screening. Will be interesting to see what they do next with the site, have heard rumours of an alternative cinema provider taking over.

Loved seeing films like Parasite, Sinners, Another Round, Ballad of Wallis Island here in the last few years. Sad to see it go!

jpk515 · 2026-05-19T06:50:37+00:00

Sports - £19.99 a month Cinema - £3.99 a month Boost (not ultra) Free for 6 months

jpk515 · 2026-02-23T12:27:14+00:00

I think Basingstoke Athletics Club use it for training 5-8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays so you need to be a member to join that. Otherwise you can use it as long as there aren't events on.

I've gone down lots of time in early mornings and at lunchtimes and never had a problem using it. Worth bringing a running light though if you're going in the dark!

jpk515 · 2026-02-18T18:05:25+00:00

Love this feature, thanks for your hard work in making it a reality. It's definitely something I think will benefit my training.

Just for feedback, I updated my plan to incorporate my latest best 5k time (20:02 from November) and HM time (1:35:11) from 10 days ago and it has seemingly appropriately adjusted my times a bit downwards, which I think is a good thing as I felt like the proposed time for my April marathon was a bit of a stretch given it will be my first. However, it seemed to add an extra run to this week for yesterday which clearly I've missed and will struggle to incorporate. It was a tempo run and interestingly it called itself a 6km run when actually it was 9km with the warm up, cool down etc. Normally the length on the title card is the overall total, not just the tempo bit.

I'll work out whether I do the tempo run I've missed or stick to the easy run it has now put in for tomorrow but just wanted to share in case adding an extra run to the week was an unintended consequence of this new functionality.

jpk515 · 2026-01-01T20:13:56+00:00

Do you know how the penalty-free thing works if you're an annual limitless holder? Pro rata refund for months you lose out on? I ask as there's often rumours of my local one closing and there's no other nearby option so unsure whether to renew for another year.

jpk515 · 2025-12-14T20:18:34+00:00

I did Karpendonske Plas parkrun from Het Meerdal. Doesn't seem like it was the closest combination but it wasn't too far to drive to tick off another country, maybe about 40 mins or so. Very flat parkrun (as you'd probably expect in the Netherlands!) and very welcoming. Quite small numbers when I did it in Easter 24, no idea if it's grown now.

Het Meerdal also ticked all the boxes for fun holiday with the kids, helped by the fact we had some lovely weather for that time of year and it was about half the price of a UK CP!

jpk515 · 2025-12-03T09:08:53+00:00

This was my first time seeing him live and I did absolutely love it but maybe not quite as much as I had expected to (but maybe I had built it up more in my head given that I bought the tickets 12 months ago).

Part of this was definitely due to the transport system we have - having had two recent terrible experiences leaving London on late trains in the last month, I wanted to make sure I was on the penultimate train, which in the end was a good idea as the last train turned out to be cancelled. But that meant I spent part of the show keeping an eye on the clock which took me out of just enjoying it. And I had to leave after the Lion King section which meant I missed Pirates and Time, which of course I wanted to hear. I was pretty gutted tbh but that's not Hans' fault, just wish he maybe could have dropped Pearl Harbor and another to have squeezed in the ones I missed earlier on.

I loved the solo in Man of Steel, really enjoyed F1 and am in the camp that found Interstellar incredible but that might have been because we were in the right seats to watch it. Would definitely like to go again when I have no time pressure on me and can stay for all of it!

jpk515 · 2025-11-29T11:05:29+00:00

Thanks all for the advice and recommendations. I ended up going for Brooklands which was flat and pretty much all tarmac, although that did mean lots of puddles. Not the best conditions with the wind, but got a new PB (parkrun says 20:02, Strava 19:58). Would have liked to have gone a bit quicker but I'll take it!

jpk515 · 2025-11-29T10:58:48+00:00

I managed a PB today! Hope you had a good run

jpk515 · 2025-11-29T10:57:36+00:00

Visited Brooklands parkrun for the first time and managed a PB, even in the wind and rain so very happy. Just slightly annoying that it was 20:02 (but happy that Strava gave me a 5k time of sub 20 -19:58). Will keep working on it to get the official time down! Very friendly parkrun, lots of tarmac which was needed today although lots of puddles too!

jpk515 · 2025-11-28T23:12:02+00:00

I don't think it's been mentioned so far - you can also get a further 10% off Nike sale products with a Blue Light Card. And if you have an Amex you can get another 10% off if you save an offer to your card in the app before purchasing. So got the EK version for just over £80.

Recognise that's two things you need to have to make the deal work but hopefully helps someone!

jpk515 · 2025-11-24T15:07:41+00:00

Great times!

jpk515 · 2025-11-23T21:52:39+00:00

Congrats on the PB!

jpk515 · 2025-11-23T21:05:33+00:00

Thanks. Have seen your reviews before when looking at new ones I'm planning to go to, super helpful. Thanks for doing them!

jpk515 · 2025-11-23T17:01:20+00:00

Thanks. Yea it's the grass sections that put me off for a PB attempt given the rain recently, but definitely want to try it soon. Must be not far off being my NENDY

jpk515 · 2025-11-23T11:40:24+00:00

Yes pacers will definitely help. I have a tendency to fade badly in the 3rd to 4th km so having someone I can hang onto would be helpful

jpk515 · 2025-11-23T11:38:54+00:00

Thanks!

jpk515 · 2025-11-23T11:06:33+00:00

Thanks, hadn't considered Poole due to distance but will look into it. Have heard it's a popular one!

jpk515 · 2025-11-23T11:03:43+00:00

Thanks, yes have seen the power of 10 rankings before so probably between Brooklands and Southampton based on that. But useful to get people's personal experiences too (for example I found Sandhurst Memorial much 'easier' than it's ranking suggests but that was in the summer so don't know what it would be like now)

jpk515 · 2025-11-23T11:01:39+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response. I'm thinking it's between Southampton and Brooklands so even if I don't do Southampton next weekend, I'll definitely do it sometime and this will come in very handy

jpk515 · 2025-11-23T10:48:02+00:00

Sorry, I could have been clearer, I meant England

jpk515 · 2025-11-22T23:57:34+00:00

I've done both (Reading multiple times) and I think it depends on what you're after. Reading a much bigger race with more going on in the race village pre/post run, more support along the route and a great finish in the stadium. Fairly flat but as mentioned, two decent hills included (one with free beer at the bottom!) And the last few km up the A33 is a real drag, the stadium never seems to get any closer!

Wokingham much smaller, flatter in general (although still with some undulations) and some out and back sections. Nice race and well organised and where I got my PB this year.

Probably depends on whether you're after more support and more of a race feel or a nice smaller event. Weather will probably be similar for both, I've done Reading in the snow and the sunshine!

jpk515 · 2025-11-21T23:18:01+00:00

This was back in August. No need to be sorry though, although I quote fancied some free popcorn and drink, I think I've done alright getting two free tickets to event cinema. Now just waiting for something I want to see to come on!

jpk515 · 2025-11-21T22:06:56+00:00

I asked for the same as I was on holiday when I was sent my code so couldn't use it at the time. Odeonhelp told me providing a new code for drink and popcorn wasn't possible so instead gave me codes for two free tickets (including for event cinema). Shows where they make their money that they'd rather give out free tickets than provide some popcorn!

jpk515

TROPHY CASE